GAGNE BLOWS SAVE IN 9TH CORA HURT AFTER COLLISION WITH PLAYER.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

The disappointment of a rare blown save by Dodgers closer Eric Gagne in the top of the ninth inning gave way to a scary moment in which shortstop Alex Cora lay motionless on the field for several minutes in the bottom of the inning.

Cora dove and slammed his head into the right knee of Arizona shortstop Tony Womack on a steal attempt in the bottom of the ninth with the score tied 3-3 Monday at Dodger Stadium. The teams entered the 10th inning tied.

Womack, who held onto the ball for the out, rolled around near the second base bag in obvious pain and Cora lay motionless draped across second base. Team medical personnel rushed to the field, and several minutes later EMT personnel brought out a back board. Cora was strapped to it to remain immobilized while many of the Diamondbacks' fielders gathered close by.

Cora lost consciousness for several moments, but was awake and alert when he left the field. He was diagnosed with a concussion and taken to Good Samaritan Hospital for observation and tests.

``He had awareness of where he was and he had movement in his feet and hands,'' Dodgers spokesman John Olguin said.

Womack remained in the game.

Cora's wife, Nildamarie, was obvious distraught and came onto the field with Dodgers reliever Giovanni Carrara. She then went back into the clubhouse when Cora was taken away by ambulance, which drove from the center field fence to in front of the Dodgers' dugout.

The game was delayed 12 minutes before Cora was taken to a local hospital.

Cora was on base after drawing a leadoff walk in the ninth inning off Arizona reliever and former teammate Mike Fetters. Cora, who had two singles and a two-run homer in one of his finest games of the season, tried to steal second. He dove several feet for the bag, making contact with Womack's knee. While laying motionless on the field, fans began chanting ``Cora! Cora! Cora!''

The collision turned a festive evening into one of suspense and uncertainty, and made all prior events trite. Cora's condition was unknown at press time.

Gagne, who also blew saves against Atlanta and Florida, was called upon to record the final five outs after relieving Paul Quantrill with a runner on first and one out in the eighth inning.

Gagne struck out Arizona slugger Luis Gonzalez and Greg Colbrunn to end the inning, and was well on his way in the ninth. Matt Williams struck out to start the inning and Steve Finley singled. Pinch-hitter Mark Grace struck out, but on a full-count pitch pinch-hitter David Dellucci lined a double into the left-center field gap to score Finley and tie it 3-3.

Gagne blew an eighth-inning save opportunity July 3 at Arizona, the last time the Dodgers and Diamondbacks played.

The Dodgers needed to win to maintain their 3 1/2-game lead over San Francisco in the wild-card race. They trailed the Diamondbacks by seven in the National League West.

Arizona right-hander Curt Schilling, the favorite in the Cy Young race,tied a season-high by walking three. He had issued just two walks in his last six starts, spanning 46 innings, and was bidding to become the first 20-game winner since Cincinnati's Slim Sallee in 1919 to have more wins than walks. Schilling, who is 21-4, has walked 23.

Trailing 3-0, Arizona rallied in the sixth and pulled within a run on Colbrunn's two-run homer into the left field pavilion. Dodgers starter Omar Daal then walked Williams, who reached second on a wide throw. Finley singled to left, but Grissom's throw to Paul Lo Duca at the plate was in time to get Williams and preserve the one-run lead.

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3 photos, box

Photo:

(1 -- color) Arizona's Curt Schilling was a bit wild against the Dodgers on Monday night, walking three batters.

(2) An ambulance waits to take away the Dodgers' Alex Cora after he collided with Arizona shortstop Tony Womack's knee.

(3) Arizona pitcher Curt Schilling wipes his brow while talking with catcher Damian M

Tom Mendoza/Staff Photographer

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