LOS ANGELES - There were plenty of skeptics when the Dodgers named Eric Gagne as their closer early last season.
It turned out to be one of the best decisions the club has made in years.
Gagne got the final four outs in a 4-1 victory over Houston on Tuesday night to set the record for consecutive saves with 55.
"There's a lot of good closers in the game, so hopefully it won't last too long," Gagne said. "It just depends on the team you play for."
Gagne broke the record set by Boston's Tom Gordon from April 19, 1998 to June 5, 1999.
"I don't have any feelings on that," Gordon said Wednesday. "I don't even know whose save record I broke, so I don't have any feelings about that."
Gagne's next target is Bobby Thigpen's season record of 57 saves. He has 47 with 25 games remaining.
Meanwhile, it looks as if Dodgers rightfielder Shawn Green will need surgery to repair his damaged right shoulder, according to team physician Frank Jobe. Green revealed this week he has played with a painful shoulder injury since spring training.
ANGELS: Catcher Bengie Molina broke his left wrist in the game-ending play against the Twins and is out for the season.
ASTROS: A day after making 60 pitches in a four-inning simulated game, right-hander Roy Oswalt said he felt fine and ready to return to the rotation. Oswalt is on the disabled list with a right groin strain.
CARDINALS: Reserve outfielder Eduardo Perez is out 2-3 weeks after having an emergency apendectomy.
GIANTS: Rightfielder Jose Cruz got his 17th outfield assist of the season, tying a team record.
INDIANS: Shortstop Omar Vizquel is likely to miss the rest of the season because of his injured right knee. Vizquel had surgery on the knee in June and may need another operation.
PADRES: Ryan Klesko is scheduled for surgery this morning on his right shoulder, ending his season. Doctors will shave down the end of his collarbone. ... Humberto Quintero made his big-league debut in the seventh, pinch-hitting and getting a single to left on the first pitch. Khalil Greene, the team's first-round pick in 2002, also debuted and flied out as a pinch-hitter in the seventh before taking over at shortstop.
TIGERS: Rookie right-hander Jeremy Bonderman, one of two Detroit pitchers on pace to lose more than 20 games, was removed from the starting rotation by manager Alan Trammell.
YANKEES: Shortstop Derek Jeter isn't expected back for the weekend series against Boston. He sustained a slight muscle strain in his left rib cage Sunday and hasn't played since.
