Gagne’s save streak finally over

LOS ANGELES — 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 a 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.

“He had a great run,” Gonzalez said. “The Dodgers have had a great run of pitchers with streaks — Orel Hershiser with his scoreless inning streak, and this one with the saves.

“Gagne did a fantastic job, but finally we got over the hump to get him to blow a save out there. There was one team out there that was eventually going to break it.”

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.

Randy Choate relieved and gave up Shawn Green’s sacrifice fly.

“That’s about as untouchable a streak as what DiMaggio did, Orel, Cal Ripken … There’s not much you can say,” Green said. “It’s not something that’ll last forever.”

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

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