LOS ANGELES — With “Welcome to the Jungle” blaring just like the outdated days, Eric Gagné took the mound and fired a strike Wednesday night time on the twentieth anniversary of recording his 84th consecutive save for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
“Each time I step on this area, it is like a church to me,” he mentioned. “It is my workplace on prime of that little mound and strolling in right here with all of the historical past — the Tommy Lasordas, the Don Drysdales, the Sandy Koufaxes of the world — it is humbling.”
Catching Gagné was present nearer Evan Phillips. Supervisor Dave Roberts turned down the request of his former teammate to get behind the plate, however they shared a giant hug on the sector.
“I do not know what he’ll throw and I do not need him to embarrass me,” mentioned Roberts, who performed with Gagné from 2002 to ’04.
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The consecutive saves mark nonetheless stands because the longest such streak in main league historical past. It lasted 87⅔ innings, through which the Canadian struck out 139 batters whereas not permitting any of 123 inherited runners to attain. He gave up a complete of two runs and no homers.
“It was like cartoon stuff, guys had no probability,” Roberts mentioned. “I keep in mind being out in heart area and I’d sort of problem myself by not having my glove on when the pitch was thrown.”
Gagné signed with the Dodgers as a free agent in 1995 and commenced his profession as a starter. However after struggling in that function, he was transformed right into a reliever.
That is the place he blossomed. From 2002 to ’04, Gagné was the majors’ dominant nearer and received the Nationwide League Cy Younger Award in 2003. He was a three-time All-Star throughout that stretch. He completed his profession with 187 saves.
Gagné pitched sparingly in 2005 and 2006 after present process elbow and again surgical procedures. The Dodgers did not re-sign him. He pitched for the Boston Crimson Sox in 2007 after they received the World Collection.
That December, Gagné was linked to baseball’s performance-enhancing medicine scandal when he was named within the Mitchell report. In 2010, he admitted to utilizing human development hormone, saying it was to recuperate from a knee harm.
Deeply tan from days spent enjoying golf and biking in Arizona the place he lives, the 48-year-old credited his teammates, together with Roberts and Shawn Inexperienced, for conserving the streak alive.
“Lots needed to go proper and the protection behind me was unbelievable,” Gagné mentioned. “Individuals name it a save, I name it extra of a preserved win. That is sort of how I went about my complete strategy. I did not really feel the strain that a lot as a result of I wasn’t actually targeted on me messing up. I used to be targeted on serving to the blokes.”
Roberts helped him, too. One night time in Houston, he robbed Lance Berkman of a house run within the ninth to maintain the streak going.
“I am sure that he mentioned he owes me a dinner,” Roberts mentioned. “I am nonetheless hungry.”
Gagné plans to pay up subsequent yr at spring coaching.
“We received to discover a good steakhouse price it,” he mentioned.