Gagne waiting for call from L.A.

Steve Guiremand

Tuesday, July 3, 2001 | 10:39 a.m.

Center fielder Chris Prieto's suicide squeeze brought in John Cotton with the winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning as Las Vegas (42-44) won its third straight game, 5-4, over the Memphis Redbirds (39-46) on Monday night at Cashman Field.

The 51s remained tied with Fresno, a 6-5 winner over Colorado Springs in 10 innings, for first place in the PCL's South Division.

Will he or won't he?

Although it has been widely speculated in the Los Angeles media for several days that the Dodgers are going to recall Eric Gagne from Las Vegas to start for the injured Darren Dreifort in Wednesday night's game against San Francisco at Dodger Stadium, Gagne still hadn't gotten any official word as of Monday.

Instead, the 25-year-old right-hander found himself answering questions about a promotion that still hadn't officially been made prior to the 51s' 5-4 victory over the Memphis Redbirds on Monday night at Cashman Field.

In fact, Gagne said he was still going on the assumption that he would start tonight's homestand finale as announced.

"I don't know what's going to happen," Gagne said. "I have no idea. I'm just going with the idea that I'll be here (tonight). I'm just going to go about my business and try and get ready for my next start."

Gagne has been impressive since being demoted to Las Vegas on June 12, compiling a 3-0 record with a 1.74 ERA. He struck out 10 and allowed just one run and five hits over 8 2/3 innings in his last start on Thursday night, a 7-1 win over Nashville.

But the Dodgers have been down this road before. Gagne dominated at triple-A Albuquerque in 2000 with a 5-1 record and 3.88 ERA in nine starts. But he struggled at the major league level that season, going just 4-8 with a 5.15 ERA.

The Dodgers put him in the starting rotation at the start of this season but Gagne struggled again. He was 1-4 with a 5.88 ERA when he was sent down to Las Vegas on June 12.

Dodgers manager Jim Tracy and pitching coach Jim Colburn took Gagne aside that day to remind the Montreal native how much they still thought of him.

"There's no doubt in my mind he's very capable," Tracy said this week. "And he is the guy who must convince himself of that and go out there and do it for us."

The Dodgers have made no secret that they believe most of Gagne's problems are mental. It also has been speculated recently the team will make a pitch to acquire Pedro Astacio from Colorado to fill Dreifort's spot.

"I don't read that stuff anymore," Gagne said. "I've read too much of it before. I can't afford to read that because I've got to just work hard here. I've got a job to get done."

Gagne said he believes he is ready for another try at the big league level.

"Oh yeah, I know I'm ready," he said. "I've worked with (51s pitching coach Dean Treanor) about being more aggressive. I have to be aggressive on every pitch. I'm a different pitcher now than I was before and I know I can be successful. I can't wait to get back up there."

Barring a major surprise, Gagne should get that wish sometime today.

Hiatt, who recently turned down an invitation to next Wednesday's Triple-A All-Star Game in Indianapolis so he could spend All-Star break with his family, hit .363 (41-for-113) with 10 homers, 27 RBIs, 28 runs and 13 doubles during June.

Taking Whisenant's spot on the roster will be lefty reliever Pedro Feliciano, who was 2-1 with 11 saves and a 1.13 ERA in 35 games for double-A Jacksonville. Feliciano, who held opponents to just a .164 batting average, is scheduled to be activated for tonight's game