Coaches’ tempers flare in heat

Steve Guiremand

Monday, July 2, 2001 | 10:16 a.m.

It was officially 111 degrees for the first pitch of Sunday's 5:35 p.m. game between the Las Vegas 51s and Memphis Redbirds at Cashman Field. And the temperature wasn't the only thing sizzling.

So were a few tempers.

In the top of the second inning of a game eventually won by the 51s, 7-6, in 10 innings, Memphis manager Gaylen Pitts had to be restrained from going into the Las Vegas dugout and after 51s pitching coach Dean Treanor.

Pitts, not exactly the swiftest afoot, slowly trudged from the third base coaching box and made it all the way to the steps in front of the Las Vegas dugout near the on-deck circle before 51s manager Rick Sofield and hitting coach Ron Jackson intercepted him.

Finally, the umpires also ran over to break up what could have been a very messy situation.

So what happened to get Pitts and Treanor jawing at each other?

"Some people got a little emotional ... nothing happened," said Treanor, who earlier this season was one of the main participants in a bench-clearing brawl against Tucson. "I think I recommended a place for him for dinner last night and I don't think he liked it. Something like that. I'm not sure."

Pitts was a little more forthcoming.

"(Memphis catcher Keith) McDonald got a little upset because (Las Vegas starter Dennis) Springer quick-pitched him," Pitts said. "Dean thought (McDonald) said something to the catcher and he started popping off. I'm just trying to protect (McDonald) and find out what was going on. One thing led to another.

"It's all over with. Dean thought McDonald said we were going to hit (Springer) in the head. We don't play that way. I don't want to hit anybody in the head. Whether he said that or not I don't know."

It should be noted that Memphis and Treanor's old team, Albuquerque, had two brawls in the span of four games in last year's Pacific Coast League playoffs.

Gagne is expected to be called up by the Dodgers to take Darren Dreifort's spot in the rotation. Dreifort went on the 15-day disabled list on Saturday with a torn ligament in his right elbow and will likely miss the remainder of the season.

"I haven't heard any official word whether Gagne is going back or what is going on," Sofield said.

But Dodgers manager Jim Tracy acknowledged before his team's victory on Sunday afternoon in San Diego that he was leaning toward calling Gagne back up.

"That is obviously the natural thing to do," Tracy said.

Gagne began the season as the Dodgers' fifth starter but struggled badly, going just 1-4 with a 5.88 ERA in 16 games, 12 of which were starts. But in three starts since being optioned to Las Vegas on June 12, the 25-year-old right-hander is 3-0 with a 1.74 ERA.

With the win, the 51s moved into a tie for first place with Fresno in the PCL's South Division.