DODGERS NOTEBOOK: GAGNE THROWS INNING.

Byline: Tony Jackson Staff Writer

WASHINGTON -- Getting credit for the save in Las Vegas' 8-5 home win over Salt Lake City on Friday night, Eric Gagne threw 17 pitches, striking out two of the three batters he faced in a scoreless inning during his first rehab assignment for the Triple-A 51s.

Gagne, recovering from elbow nerve surgery in April, is next scheduled to pitch on Monday for the 51s.

``I felt good out there and had good results,'' said Gagne. ``I felt good about throwing strikes. I'm not where I want to be right now, but my arm felt free. My elbow felt good and my arm felt good.''

Gagne said he had ``good arm speed and rotation on the ball.''

--Memorable trip: Dodgers broadcaster Rick Monday led a group that included manager Grady Little, pitcher Aaron Sele, first baseman Nomar Garciaparra, outfielder Andre Ethier and several members of the coaching staff and broadcast crew on a visit to Walter Reed Army Hospital to visit soldiers recovering from serious injuries suffered in the Iraq war.

``At first, it was sobering,'' Ethier said. ``But in talking with the doctors and nurses, they said not to come in with long faces, but to come in with bright smiles, show an interest and ask questions. (The soldiers) like to tell stories and explain how they got there. We talked about stuff like where they were from.

``I guess going 0 for 5 in the big leagues isn't the worst day you can ever have.''

The visit was arranged by Monday's wife, Barbaralee, in conjunction with Dr. John Pitman, a plastic surgeon who has shut down his private practice here to volunteer his time and expertise at Walter Reed. Pitman is expected to visit the Dodgers clubhouse at RFK Stadium before this afternoon's game.

``It's a special group of doctors and medical staff there, not only in terms of their professional talent, but their humanity,'' Rick Monday said. ``We told the (soldiers) they make us damn proud to be American citizens, just the attitudes of those young people and their sense of responsibility.''

--Borders retires: After batting .181 in 20 games at Single-A Vero Beach, then going 1 for 19 in six games at Triple-A Las Vegas, veteran catcher Pat Borders, 43, told Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti on Thursday night that he was retiring.

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