DODGERS NOTEBOOK: GAGNE LOOKS FORWARD TO `TWIN'.

Byline: Jill Painter Staff Writer

The Dodgers asked Eric Gagne whether he would sign off on their latest promotional idea. Gagne didn't mind at all, though he did think it was funny.

So today, Eric Gagne will meet Eric Gagne. Well, at least the fan who most looks like him.

The Dodgers will have a Gagne look-alike contest as part of the Viva Los Dodgers festival before today's game. The contest will have fans putting their faces in a cutout of Gagne, and a couple of players will determine who most resembles the Dodgers' famous closer.

It's a look that won't be easy to replicate.

``Hopefully, it will be halfway decent,'' Gagne said.

Gagne has quite a distinguished look, from his curly hair, long-haired goatee (recently trimmed), famous goggles and tattered cap he's worn since spring training.

``That goatee is a special one,'' Dodgers manager Jim Tracy said. ``You can't paint that on.''

Gagne's results aren't easily reproduced, either, as the former starter has been dominant this season. Before Saturday's game, he'd earned 45 saves in as many opportunities and is the only closer in history to record back-to-back seasons with 45 saves.

His 53 consecutive saves are just one shy of Tom Gordon's 54 in a row in 1998-99.

``There's a lot of luck in it,'' Gagne said. ``You saw the catch Dave Roberts made the other night. Some of them, I didn't deserve saves and some of them I didn't pitch as good as I could've, but it's all worked out.''

In most of them, Gagne has been nearly unhittable. Gagne has 118 strikeouts, just 17 walks and opposing batters have hit just .133 against him. He's allowed only 11 earned runs in 68 1/3 innings.

Maybe after the season, Gagne will think about records and milestones he's reached. But for now, he doesn't think about it.

``All I care about is winning games,'' Gagne said.

--Contest details: Fans who wish to participate in the contest should go to Lot 38 at Dodger Stadium by 11:30 a.m. to sign up.

The winner will receive a package that consists of a meeting with Gagne, four field-level tickets to a selected game and a replica Gagne baseball jersey.

--Double the fun: Cesar Izturis has been on an offensive tear, similar to Adrian Beltre's. Beltre, however, has been hitting for power. While Izturis doesn't hit for power, he has had his share of extra-base hits. Izturis has 19 doubles this year, five off the 24 he had last season. Before Saturday, he was batting .385 over the previous eight games.

``I feel good at the plate,'' Izturis said. ``Like I've said before,I just try to do my best.''

Izturis is still batting eighth, but it's something that doesn't bother him. Tracy has used Izturis in the No. 2 spot - occupied by Paul Lo Duca - for 19 games.

``I'm happy to be in the lineup and playing every day,'' Izturis said.

The Dodgers are certainly happy to have him for his defense. Izturisleads all National League shortstops with a .982 fielding percentage. He could become the first Dodgers shortstop to lead the league in fielding since Hall of Famer Pee Wee Reese in 1949.

--News and notes: The Dodgers must turn in their 40-man roster to Major League Baseball by 9 p.m. today. ... The Dodgers' rookie-league Ogden Raptors made the Pioneer League playoffs. Former Dodgers bullpen catcher Travis Barbary manages the team.