Gagne muffles the Sounds to stay unbeaten

Spencer Patterson

Friday, June 29, 2001 | 10:16 a.m.

Apparently, Eric Gagne feels comfortable pitching for triple-A Las Vegas. He just doesn't want to get too comfortable here.

A one-time member of the Los Angeles Dodgers' rotation this season, Gagne found himself heading back to the minors earlier this month after opponents pounded him to the tune of a 5.88 ERA in the majors.

Since then, all he has done is show he may deserve a return trip to the big leagues before long. Thursday night, the 25-year-old right-hander stayed unbeaten during his stint with the 51s, pitching five-hit baseball for 8 2/3 innings in a 7-1 Las Vegas win over Nashville at Cashman Field.

"Sometimes when I go out there, I give too much credit to the hitters," Gagne said. "I've got to be the man out there. When I'm aggressive, I'm successful, and I was aggressive tonight."

Gagne (3-0) kept the Sounds at bay for most of the night, taking a three-hit shutout into the ninth inning before exiting the contest after allowing Nashville's lone run. He finished with 10 strikeouts and one walk, and lowered his ERA with the 51s to 1.74.

"There's a reason he was on the (Dodgers') opening day roster," 51s manager Rick Sofield said. "He came down with the attitude that he knew there were some things he had to work on and making those adjustments would be easier in Las Vegas than in L.A. That's what we're here for."

Gagne, who did not allow a runner to reach second base until the ninth inning, remained in the contest despite taking a hard liner off his right thigh in the seventh inning. He urged Sofield to let him try to earn the game's final out, but was removed after throwing 110 pitches.

Gagne received plenty of support from his teammates, who pounded out 13 hits off a trio of Nashville starters, pasting Sounds starter Don Wengert (4-3) for six earned runs in five innings.

Chris Prieto and John Cotton homered to lead the way for the hosts, with Prieto and Keith Johnson each contributing two hits.