GAGNE FINISHES OFF ORIOLES CLOSER DELIVERS AGAIN FOR DODGERS DODGERS 2, BALTIMORE 1.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

BALTIMORE - Left-hander Odalis Perez just finished breezing through eight innings in which he struck out a career-high 10 and left with a one-run lead when Baltimore's Gary Matthews reached third via a double and botched pickoff play with none out.

Perez didn't flinch. Nor did anyone in a Dodgers uniform. Not with Eric Gagne, the most dominant closer in baseball, holding the ball.

Gagne overpowered Melvin Mora for a strikeout, came back from a 3-0 count to strike out Brian Roberts and retired Chris Singleton on a lazy flyball to left field to preserve a 2-1 Dodgers victory Sunday at Camden Yards, marking the 21st time in 22 tries the right-hander recorded a save.

``We were sitting and watching the game on the computer thing and guys were talking about it and saying, 'They got no chance,' '' said Perez (6-3). ``When he gets mad, he's bad.''

Bad, as in good.

So good that Perez referred to Gagne as a ``Cy Young candidate.''

So dominating that left fielder Brian Jordan said if Gagne continues on his current path of development, he could be as good as former teammates Lee Smith or Dennis Eckersley.

So overpowering that right fielder Shawn Green, who added to his team-leading RBI total (43) with an RBI groundout in the third that gave the Dodgers a 2-0 lead, said Gagne was the biggest reason the Dodgers (37-25) are in second place and two games behind Arizona in the National League West.

``With having Gagne out there, you have the tying run on third with no outs and you feel a little uneasy, but you're not worried,'' Green said. ``There's few teams in baseball that feel like that. Gagne is the biggest factor of where we are right now. What he's done is shorten the game and makes everyone's job easier.''

The Orioles easily concurred.

Matthews doubled to lead off the ninth but should have been out when Mora missed a bunt and catcher Chad Kreuter caught Matthews wandering. But shortstop Alex Cora's throw caused Adrian Beltre to stumble at third, and Beltre missed the tag.

``I thought we had it,'' Matthews said. ``I thought it was a no-brainer (to score), but he's one of the best closers in the game.''

Mora struck out for a change, Roberts was blown away with a fastball and Singleton flied out as Gagne closed out the Dodgers' fourth consecutive series victory.

``I think I put them on defense,'' said Gagne, who has a 1.39 ERA and allowed 17 hits and struck out 44 in 32 1/3 innings.

``I didn't back down. I went up and I put those guys on defense even though they should have been ahead of me with a guy on third with no outs. I tried to stay positive and was aggressive. You can tell swinging the bat they're not comfortable and that's what I'm trying to do. I'm trying to make them ofalance and as uncomfortable as possible.''

It is a transformation that is stunning. Gagne always was a hard thrower who often spoke quietly about how much enjoyment he would get out of closing games. But he was a kid brought up as a starter in the minors and his low-90s fastball and ability to throw an offspeed pitch kept the Dodgers' perception of him the same.

That's until senior vice president Dave Wallace saw him throw last season and decided Gagne's make-up, approach to challenging hitters and ability to overwhelm hitters for three innings, but rarely longer, made him a prime closer candidate.

Dodgers right-hander Andy Ashby spent seven seasons in San Diego watching Trevor Hoffman develop into one of the top closers in baseball.

``You see the things (Gagne) is doing and it's awesome,'' Ashby said. ``He's got some of the nastiest stuff in the game.''

DODGERS vs. TAMPA BAY

Time: 4:15 p.m., Tropicana Field.

Radio: 1150-AM, 1330-AM (Spanish).

Matchup: The Dodgers play Tampa Bay for the first time as interleague play takes on an odyssey to the Gulf Coast. RH Hideo Nomo (5-5, 3.53 ERA) makes his fifth career appearance against the Devil Rays. He is 1-1 with a 4.81 ERA but has not faced them at the Trop. Nomo is 3-0 with a 2.81 ERA in his past four starts. Tampa LH Wilson Alvarez (1-1, 5.12) is making his third start since returning from a muscle strain in his side. Tuesday - Dodgers LH Omar Daal (4-2, 2.72) vs. Devil Rays LH Joe Kennedy (3-5, 4.42); Wednesday - Dodgers RH Andy Ashby (5-5, 3.00) vs. Devils Rays RH Ryan Rupe (5-7, 5.18).

- Brian Dohn

CAPTION(S):

photo, box

Photo:

Starter Odalis Perez improved to 6-3 with the Dodgers' 2-1 victory Sunday in Baltimore.

Nick Wass/Associated Press

Box:

DODGERS vs. TAMPA BAY (see text)