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Gagne Despondent After Another Loss

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The Associated Press

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 11, 2008

MILWAUKEE - Eric Gagne no longer wants to be called the Brewers' closer. He's pitching his way out of that role, anyway.

The former NL Cy Young Award winner gave up a two-run single with two outs in the ninth inning to Ryan Ludwick, and St. Louis held on for a 5-3 victory against Milwaukee on Saturday that snapped a season-long three-game skid.

"I don't deserve that ninth inning right now. It's pretty simple," Gagne said.

The beleaguered reliever was slumped in his locker room chair with his eyes closed for several minutes before putting his hands on his head. After a clubhouse official asked if he wanted to talk, he told reporters he doesn't need a "mental break" like Cardinals counterpart Jason Isringhausen asked for Friday night.

"I don't need breaks. I need to keep going out there. I need results," said Gagne, who has a major league-leading five blown saves along with Isringhausen. "I get myself in a situation, in a jam, every single time I'm out there. You can't pitch like that."
Prince Fielder hit a tying homer in the eighth for Milwaukee, but the slumping Brewers botched a squeeze play later in the inning and lost for the seventh time in eight games.

Gagne gave up consecutive singles to start the ninth. After Aaron Miles hit a 15-foot grounder that advanced the runners, Gagne intentionally walked Albert Pujols to load the bases with one out for Rick Ankiel, who fouled out. Ludwick grounded a single just past shortstop J.J. Hardy to give St. Louis a 5-3 lead.

"Every time we get a little momentum, I come out there and kill that rally," Gagne said.

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