BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : And Now a Word From Our Sponsor

What happens when a baseball player makes his first commercial before he makes his first team? Ask Dodger first baseman of the future Eric Karros, who is sweating out a final roster cut as his television ad for an automobile manufacturer plays in living rooms throughout Southern California.

What they didn’t know then: On Feb. 14, Valentine’s Day, when the commercial was shot at an Anaheim dealership, Karros seemed a cinch to make the Dodgers.

There was talk then about moving Kal Daniels from the outfield to first base, but a trade of Daniels seemed more likely, opening up first base for Karros.

A month later, first base is suddenly Daniels’ job to lose, and Karros ponders a return trip to the minor leagues.

“They took a little bit of a gamble,” Karros said of the company that employed him for the commercial. “They probably assumed I was going to get the job or at least be in a platoon situation. What am I going to do, tell them I don’t want to do it?”

The marketing idea was to find a prospective low-paid Dodger rookie who might appreciate an affordable automobile.

The ad agency came up with four names and eventually chose Karros.

“It’s the first time I’ve ever done anything like that,” Karros said. “It was fun.”

It was also work. The taping took about 13 hours to complete. Karros needed seven takes for the first scene but warmed up after that.

“They don’t shoot the commercial all at once,” he said. “That’s something I didn’t know. I thought I’d have to memorize the whole thing from beginning to end.”

Provided Karros is with the Dodgers in August, they are already talking about another commercial.

Karros has proved he can act. Now, can he hit?

The main game between the Dodgers and the New York Mets was called because of rain after 2 1/3 innings at Port St. Lucie. It didn’t end soon enough for 21-year-old pitcher Pedro Martinez.

Martinez entered the game with an impressive spring earned-run average of 1.29 in three appearances, but he gave up two runs and three hits in two innings. He also walked two batters.

Worse yet, a first-inning line drive off the bat of Willie Randolph struck Martinez in the left foot, causing initial concern. He remained in the game but struggled.

In the second inning, Martinez narrowly escaped the barrel-end of a shattered bat that snapped in the hands of the Mets’ Todd Hundley on his base hit.

Martinez was scheduled to pitch four or five innings.

“He made enough pitches for four or five innings,” Manager Tom Lasorda said.

Lasorda said he didn’t think the rough start will affect Martinez, adding: “He’s got a lot of poise for a young man.”

Daniels fielded two chances cleanly at first base in his rain-shortened performance against the Mets. . . . Thursday’s game was ultimately canceled because it took the groundskeepers 18 minutes to cover the infield after the initial downpour, which turned the infield dirt to mud. The skies cleared later in the day. . . . Dodger pitcher Rudy Seanez threw for the first time since suffering lower back pain on March 7.