Gagne finally blows a save

Dynamite closer fails, but L.A. prevails over Arizona

? Eric Gagne’s streak of 84 consecutive saves ended against the same team he couldn’t hold off two years ago: the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Gagne’s major-league-record streak ended Monday night when he blew a two-run lead for the Los Angeles Dodgers, who came back to beat Arizona, 6-5, in 10 innings.

Gagne relieved with a 5-3 lead at the start of the ninth but allowed pinch-hitter Luis Gonzalez’s RBI double and Chad Tracy’s run-scoring single on an 0-2 pitch that went past the glove of diving first baseman Olmedo Saenz. Both hits came off changeups.

“I never really thought about the streak at all,” Gagne said. “I’m not really relieved about it, but it was so much fun to be a part of it.”

Realizing that Gagne’s streak was over, the crowd of 32,929 at Dodger Stadium gave Gagne a standing ovation as he stood on the mound with his head down.

Gagne retired the next two batters and got another standing ovation on his way to the dugout before taking a curtain call to wilder cheers.

“I’ve got a job to do tomorrow. You can’t worry about today,” Gagne said. “You’ve got to start all over every day.”

Dave Roberts singled in the 10th off Greg Aquino (0-1), making his second big-league appearance. Cesar Izturis sacrificed, Milton Bradley was intentionally walked, and Adrian Beltre walked, loading the bases.

Giovanni Carrara (1-0) got the win by getting the final out of the 10th.

Gagne had not blown a save chance since David Dellucci hit a tying double Aug. 26, 2002.

During the streak, Gagne blew the lead in the 2003 All-Star game when he allowed a home run to the Texas Rangers’ Hank Blalock, but that exhibition game didn’t count in the statistics.

Gagne’s record was 30 more than the previous mark of 54, set by Tom Gordon for Boston from April 19, 1998 to June 5, 1999.

Dodgers closer Eric Gagne checks on an Arizona base-runner during the ninth inning. Gagne gave up two hits to blow the save, ending his streak of 84 straight saves, Monday in Los Angeles. The Dogers won, 6-5, in 10 innings.

The Montreal native set the mark Sept. 2 against Houston, part of his perfect 55-save season last year. He has 21 this season.

Cardinals 4, Reds 1

St. Louis — Chris Carpenter struck out eight and walked none in seven-plus innings, leading St. Louis. Carpenter, 9-3 with a 3.50 earned-run average, allowed one run and five hits.

Edgar Renteria and Scott Rolen each drove in two runs, and Albert Pujols had three hits for St. Louis.

Jason Isringhausen got three outs for his 19th save in 23 chances, walking Ken Griffey Jr. and Adam Dunn before striking out Wily Mo Pena to end the game.

Brewers 1, Cubs 0

Milwaukee — All-Star Ben Sheets struck out 12, and Craig Counsell hit his second home run of the season in the first inning, leading Milwaukee.

Sheets (8-5) gave up four hits in seven innings to beat Matt Clement (7-7), who walked a season-high six. Clement struck out 10 in seven innings and allowed just three hits — only one after the first.

The Brewers, who struck out 17, stopped a season-high four-game losing streak and ended the Cubs’ four-game winning streak.

Phillies 6, Mets 5

Philadelphia — Pat Burrell had two hits and two RBIs, and Ryan Madson (6-2) pitched two scoreless innings in relief of an ineffective Paul Abbott. One day after being selected to his ninth NL All-Star team, Tom Glavine (7-6) gave up six runs and 10 hits in six innings in his worst outing this season.

Pirates 3, Marlins 1

Miami — Kip Wells pitched eight shutout innings for the Pirates’ 10th straight win.

Wells (4-5) won for the first time since May 1, allowing four hits and striking out eight for his first win in eight starts.

Jose Mesa pitched the ninth for his 21st save in 22 chances.

Braves 11, Expos 4

San Juan, Puerto Rico — Andruw Jones hit a three-run homer in a six-run first inning, and Chipper Jones had four RBIs.

Paul Byrd (2-1) gave up three runs — two earned — and 10 hits in seven innings as Atlanta (41-41) reached .500 for the first time since June 12 (30-30).

Rockies 7, Giants 4

San Francisco — Jeromy Burnitz hit a two-run double, and Colorado stretched a winning streak to four for the first time July 25-29.

Aaron Cook (3-3), backed by a five-run first against Brett Tomko (3-5), allowed four runs and six hits in five innings, and Shawn Chacon pitched the ninth for his 18th save.

Padres 2, Astros 1

San Diego — Ryan Klesko singled in the go-ahead run with one out in the eighth inning, and Brian Lawrence outlasted Roger Clemens. Klesko, who moved into the cleanup spot after Phil Nevin went on the disabled list Monday, singled to right off Dan Miceli (3-4) to bring in Sean Burroughs from second to break a 1-all tie. Lawrence (10-5) held the Astros to one run and five hits in eight innings, struck out three and walked three. Trevor Hoffman pitched the ninth for his 21st save in 23 chances.