DODGERS : Karros Works on Fielding, Keeps Hitting

VERO BEACH, Fla. — Eric Karros hit his fourth home run of the exhibition season Thursday, a two-run shot to left field in the ninth inning, but the Dodgers lost to the Houston Astros, 3-2.

Karros is batting .360 with four doubles and nine runs batted in, and leads the team in homers.

Unlike last spring, when he concentrated on hitting while trying to make the roster, Karros has spent more time on his fielding at first base this year.

“Every morning we work on fielding from 8:45 a.m. until the team meeting starts at 9:30,” infield coach Joe Amalfitano said. “Eric takes two bags of balls, and if we didn’t have to come in for the meeting, he would probably field two more bags. He’s a workaholic and he’s improved.”

Karros, who is batting sixth, behind third baseman Tim Wallach, says that is where he will be in the opening-day lineup.

“I can hit third, fifth or sixth, but I’m not a home run hitter like Darryl (Strawberry), I’m not a fourth-place hitter,” Karros said. “I think I’m comparable more to the type of hitter Tim Wallach was when he first came up. I’ll hit doubles and about 20 home runs, and I can hit for a better average--I know I can.”

Karros, given the cleanup role last season after Strawberry and others were injured, batted .246 with 11 home runs in 333 at-bats.

“I thought he did an outstanding job,” Amalfitano said. “He carried a big load.”

Strawberry’s batting average fell to .135 when he went 0 for 4, but he says he is unconcerned. In 37 at-bats, he has five hits, including two home runs and two doubles, and seven RBIs.

“I’m not worried, I’ve been hitting too long,” Strawberry said. “I feel good, I’m hitting and I’m hitting to all fields. I’m not concerned about hitting it out of the ballpark right now. I just want to make contact.”

Strawberry said the team has entered the ragged part of spring training, when the last two weeks seem to drag on. He said the rainy weather has added to the boredom.

“You come here looking for the sun, and once you get loose, you get stiff all over again,” Strawberry said. “I’m not concerned about average. I’m making contact. But once the season starts, it’s all over.”

Dodger Notes

Pedro Martinez gave up two runs on six hits in the first inning before settling down somewhat. He then gave up another run, a homer by Houston starter Brian Williams. It was the second shaky start for Martinez, who yielded four runs in five innings against the Toronto Blue Jays. Martinez is competing with five other pitchers for bullpen jobs.

Todd Worrell is expected to pitch in his first exhibition today when the Dodgers play the Atlanta Braves in West Palm Beach. Worrell threw one inning in an intrasquad contest last Sunday but hasn’t appeared in a game because of a tight hamstring. . . . Injury report: The muscle strain in pitcher Ramon Martinez’s left hip has improved.