LOS ANGELES -- There was finally some good news for Eric Gagne on Saturday. His morning surgery to repair a herniated disk was successful, and the Dodgers pitcher was able to walk for a limited time Saturday afternoon.

Dr. Robert Watkins, a spine surgeon, performed the surgery at St. Vincent's Hospital on Saturday. He removed a significantly large piece of the protruding herniated disk located between vertebrae L4 and L5.

The disk would press on a nerve, causing a painful sensation that ran down Gagne's back and leg.

Dodgers trainer Stan Johnston reported no damage to the nerve and said Gagne was well after the surgery.

"I talked to Eric this afternoon," Johnston said. "He was awake and watching the game. He called to tell me he caught Olmedo Saenz's home run."

Gagne will remain in the hospital through the weekend.

The surgery was necessary after an epidural nerve block procedure Thursday did not produce results. Also included in the failed procedure was medication to block pain and relieve the pressure.

Gagne woke up Tuesday morning with pain in his lower back. He has been hospitalized since Wednesday.

The problem is almost the same one Gagne had three years ago in Spring Training when he reported stiffness in his back. According to Johnston, it is the same bulging degenerated disk that bothered him this week. Gagne recovered quickly in 2003, but the road to recovery this year may take a little longer.

"It's going to be three weeks before he starts training and the process of getting his strength back and his body back in condition," Johnston said.

Gagne is expected to be ready by Spring Training in 2007, though he may no longer be with the Dodgers. The organization has a $1 million buyout option on the closer's contract.

The surgery was Gagne's third in two years, with the other two performed on his right elbow.