GAGNE FINALLY ARRIVES JET-LAGGED PITCHER FORCED INTO ACTION DODGERS 6, ARIZONA 3.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

PHOENIX - The Dodgers found a way to keep Eric Gagne from being too charged up for a start, but it's kind of complicated.

First, sit him through a minor-league game the night before. Then, have him hop on a plane, preferably in Memphis, Tenn., at 4:30 a.m. and send him through Dallas, Albuquerque and Las Vegas before arriving at the ballpark. In this particular instance, send him to the desert.

Oh, and wait until two hours before the game to tell him he's starting.

It worked Monday as Gagne, pressed into duty because Ismael Valdes was injured, pitched six shutout innings as the Dodgers beat Arizona 6-3 at Bank One Ballpark.

``I'm exhausted. Just exhausted,'' said Gagne, who allowed one hit, struck out seven and most likely earned a few more starts. ``I had 15 or 20 minutes of sleep, so I guess sleeping is overrated.''

Gagne was a starter of circumstance. Valdes had been scheduled but was scratched about two hours before the game because of numbness in his right pinkie, which he said caused him to lose control of his pitches.

Gagne began the day in Memphis, where Triple-A Albuquerque was eliminated in the playoffs Sunday.

``We had a (scouting) meeting and I didn't even listen in the meeting because I was so tired I was just trying to stay awake,'' said Gagne, who learned he would start after the meeting. ``(Dodgers manager) Davey (Johnson) came up to me and said, `You might pitch.' I'm like, `Oh, that's good.' But I didn't think about today (Monday). I thought about (Tuesday) or the next day. It was fun, though. To go out and pitch six innings and not give up a run feels good.''

If Gagne had pitched like this during the first half of the season - something the Dodgers expected - there never would have been a Valdes episode to allow Gagne this start.

Because Gagne faltered through the first four months of the season, going 1-6 with a 5.85 ERA, the Dodgers felt their only chance to make a run at the playoffs was to acquire a veteran pitcher. Valdes was the only viable option.

During his early-season struggles, Gagne's biggest issue was overcoming early control problems, something which plagued him against the Diamondbacks. He allowed a two-out single to center to Luis Gonzalez in the first inning and walked the next two batters. Gagne got out of the inning by retiring Matt Williams on a called third strike.

Gagne gave up two more walks in the outing but retired 12 consecutive batters between them.

``That's the Gagne we knew from last year,'' Johnson said. ``He was nibbling (early), feeling his way, and then it looked like he got his confidence and was lights out after the first two innings. That's why we projected him to be one of our big, successful starters this year. It was good to see it.''

The Dodgers led 1-0 after the first inning on Gary Sheffield's RBI double. They increased it to 5-0 in the fifth inning as Tom Goodwin homered and Sheffield, Shawn Green and Adrian Beltre each had run-scoring hits.

``He didn't let his emotions get in the way, especially with two outs,'' Dodgers catcher Todd Hundley said. ``After about the second or third inning, he really settled down and focused on location. He threw great pitches with full counts and behind in the count.''