DODGERS NOTEBOOK: GAGNE WON'T FACE PENALTY.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

PHILADELPHIA - The lobbying that Dodgers general manager Dan Evans did on behalf of closer Eric Gagne must have had an impact. Baseball's top disciplinarian said Monday neither the reliever nor manager Jim Tracy would be suspended or fined for Thursday's incident when both were thrown out of a game against the Cincinnati Reds.

Bob Watson, vice president of on-field operations for baseball, is expected to make his announcement today or Wednesday, but he reached a decision Monday morning.

``No action will be taken from this office,'' Watson said. ``I talked to (vice president of umpiring) Ralph Nelson several times and decided there will be no discipline. There will be no suspensions and no fines for Eric Gagne or Jim Tracy.''

But the investigation into the ejections of Gagne and Tracy from Thursday's game in Cincinnati is ongoing, precluding Watson from making an announcement. Nelson is scheduled to meet with umpire Dan Iassogna today in Boston, and Iassogna could be reprimanded.

``If it's true there won't be a suspension or anything that will keep Gagne (from playing) for any time at all, I think it's the right decision,'' Evans said. ``I think everything that has been relayed to major-league baseball has been very clear from our part. We thought that Eric not only didn't intend to hit (Adam) Dunn, but he didn't merit any kind of discipline at all. And I hope that's the case, and the same with Jim.''

Evans flew from Los Angeles to Philadelphia to meet with Nelson after Gagne was ejected when he hit Dunn. It was the pitch after Aaron Boone hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning to pull Cincinnati within 4-2.

--Brown's next rehab: The Dodgers made it official, saying right-hander Kevin Brown will pitch for Triple-A Las Vegas on Friday in Edmonton. Brown is scheduled to throw about 80 pitches and could be activated from the 60-day disabled list shortly thereafter.

Brown, who threw 50 pitches in his first rehabilitation outing Saturday for Las Vegas, threw 70 pitches in a bullpen session at Dodger Stadium and will throw another bullpen session Wednesday. Evans will likely watch Brown in Edmonton.

``What we're looking at is a guy who appears to be making a really good comeback,'' Evans said. ``The fact that he had no fatigue, no problems with his elbow, no back problems, no swelling (in the elbow), was really a positive thing for us.''

The Dodgers are targeting his return for the Aug. 16-18 weekend series against the Mets.

--Working for runs: Although the Dodgers have preached patience at the plate and working counts, it hasn't translated into many walks that turn into more run-producing situations. In fact, even though getting more quality at-bats has been talked about, the Dodgers are last in the National League with 287 walks, the only club with less than 330.

``That, to me, there is a number where if you saw some of the ridiculous swings we saw over the course of the past couple of years, I could go along with what you're saying,'' Tracy said.

Furthermore, the Dodgers' limited number baserunners has resulted in a league-low 731 runners left on base. They were second-to-last in on-base percentage at .317.

--Odds and ends: Shortstop Alex Cora made his fourth consecutive start at shortstop while Cesar Izturis remained on the bench. Each start has been against a right-hander. ... Philadelphia Phillies starter Brandon Duckworth struck out the first six Dodgers batters but had one strikeout in the next four-plus innings. Arizona's Randy Johnson also did it against the Mets on Monday. The last pitcher to accomplish the feat was Houston's Jim DeShaies, who did it Sept. 23, 1986, when he set a major-league record by striking out the first eight. ... Dodgers right-hander Hideo Nomo tied a season high with 10 strikeouts, the 30th time in his career he's reached double digits.

DODGERS vs. PITTSBURGH

Time: 7:10 p.m., Dodger Stadium.

TV/Radio: Fox Sports Net 2; 1150-AM, 1330-AM (Spanish).

Matchup: Dodgers LH Odalis Perez (10-7, 3.15 ERA) pitched well in his last outing after getting nine days off to rest his mind. Perez yielded two hits in seven shutout innings but wasn't involved in the decision. He's winless since July 5 and is 1-1 with a 4.97 ERA in two career outings against the Pirates. RH Josh Fogg (10-7, 4.10) has pitched well for the Pirates after being acquired in an offseason deal with the White Sox. Fogg beat the Dodgers on April 25, allowing no earned runs in 5 2/3 innings. Wednesday - Dodgers RH Andy Ashby (7-9, 3.75) vs. Pirates RH Brian Meadows (0-1, 3.00); Thursday - Dodgers LH Kazuhisa Ishii (12-7, 4.07) vs. Pirates LH Jimmy Anderson (8-11, 4.86).

- Brian Dohn

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DODGERS vs. PITTSBURGH (see text)