GREEN'S STRIKE LIFTS DODGERS DODGERS 1, MONTREAL 0.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

MONTREAL - Eric Gagne spent the season throwing strikes, Omar Daal spent the last month throwing strikes and Thursday in Montreal it was right fielder Shawn Green's turn to throw strikes.

Green's pinpoint-accurate throw from right field and a textbook block of the plate by catcher Paul Lo Duca were the ingredients needed to get pinch runner Henry Mateo by a nanosecond for the final out and allow the Dodgers to leave Montreal with a 1-0 win in perhaps their last game at Olympic Stadium.

Daal (10-6) allowed four hits in seven innings to improve to 3-0 with a 1.89 ERA in his last five starts and Gagne survived the ninth inning for his 41st save, and second of the series in front of his hometown fans.

But no doubt the emotion of the moment won't last as long as it normally would. Before the first pitch is thrown in today's game against the Mets, there will be more talk of strikes coming from the Dodgers. And likely the rest of baseball.

Coming off the emotional win, the Dodgers boarded a plane for New York, where the season's future could be decided. Lo Duca, the Dodgers' player representative, and several of his teammates will likely walk to the players' association building and take part in a conference call that is expected to result in the setting of an Aug. 30 strike date.

``Its a little bit emotional to do it, and the bottom line is everybody wants to play,'' Lo Duca said. ``We don't want to go out on strike, but if we have to, we're going to. But it puts everything in perspective.''

While the specter of another work stoppage hovers over baseball, the Dodgers leave Montreal having won six of their last eight and leading the wild-card race.

And the Dodgers, angered at the umps for blown calls during a two-week span a short time ago, have third-base umpire Tim Timmons partly to thank for their National League-leading 12th shutout.

Dave Roberts' RBI groundout scored Mark Grudzielanek in the third inning, and that held up when Timmons couldn't get out of the way of Jose Vidros shoulda-been double off reliever Paul Quntrill in the eighth.

Instead, the ball hit Timmons' foot and stopped. Third baseman Adrian Beltre picked it up and threw to Tyler Houston at first, catching Vidro too far off the base for the first out. Orlando Cabrera followed with a double but was eventually stranded at third when Jesse Orosco got Troy OLeary to fly out to left with the bases loaded.

``I zigged when I should have zagged,'' Timmons said. ``Nobody feels worse about (the ball) hitting me than me.''

The drama continued in the ninth against Gagne when Michael Barrett reached when Houston fumbled shortstop Alex Cora's throw. Mateo moved to second on a sacrifice and after Brad Wilkerson struck out, Vidro hit a sharp liner to right.

``It's my job and I was going to get the throw and make sure he didn't get to the plate,'' Lo Duca said. ``To get a guy out at the plate to end the game is just an awesome feeling.''

Green fielded the ball cleanly and threw a one-hopper to Lo Duca, who caught the ball and tagged Mateo in one motion.

``I knew he was a fast runner, the ball was hit hard and it was a bang-bang play,'' Green said. ``When I let it go I thought I had him, but you never know what's going to happen with a play at the plate. I know if the ball is anywhere close, (Lo Duca) makes the play.''

CAPTION(S):

photo, box

Photo:

(color) The Dodgers' Eric Gagne celebrates as Montreal's pinch runner Henry Mateo is called out at home.

Marcos Townsend/Associated Press

Box:

National League Wild Card