Gagne Pitches Consecutive Days For First Time In 2 Years

Saturday, April 7th 2007, 9:20 pm

By: News On 6

FRISCO, Texas (AP) -- Texas Rangers closer Eric Gagne throws 17 pitches in a minor-league game Saturday night, the first time in nearly two years the former Cy Young Award winner has pitched in games on consecutive days.

Starting for AA Frisco for the second night in a row, Gagne faced 5 Arkansas batters and threw 12 strikes while throwing mostly off-speed pitches. He allowed a solo home run and a single.

The former Seminole State standout started the season on the disabled list to give him more time to come back from elbow and back operations that limited him to 15 1-3 innings the past two seasons.

Part of the Rangers' plan was to have him pitch on consecutive days. Gagne threw 15 pitches to three Arkansas batters last night.

The right-hander hadn't pitched on consecutive days since May 2005, for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Gagne is scheduled to pitch again Tuesday for Frisco.

If all goes well, he'll then travel with the Rangers on Thursday and be activated before they begin their weekend series Friday night in Seattle.