Angels Slide Past Dodgers : Freeway Series: DiSarcina’s seventh-inning double drives in only run.

Shortstop Gary DiSarcina and second baseman Bobby Rose, the Angels’ new double play combination, are on the brink of their first season as starters. And in the first game of the Freeway Series on Friday night, each committed an error.

But the errors were inconsequential. More important, they combined on the game’s only run when DiSarcina doubled home Rose in the seventh inning of the Angels’ 1-0 exhibition victory before 55,983 at Anaheim Stadium. The teams move to Dodger Stadium for games tonight and Sunday afternoon.

The Angels, with four standout pitchers and little offense, say this is the kind of victory they will have to depend on.

“We’re going to see a lot of low-scoring games,” Angel Manager Buck Rodgers said. “We’ve got to win 55%-60% of them. This is going to be our forte. We’re not going to outslug too many teams.”

He also will need to get good defense. Three errors aside, the Angels played good defense at critical points, with Luis Polonia making a top-of-the fence catch of Todd Benzinger’s second-inning fly to left, and Chad Curtis and Junior Felix each throwing out a runner at the plate in the late innings.

The Dodgers left opportunities behind, stranding 13 runners.

The Angels broke through against Dodger reliever Jay Howell, who had made only one appearance this spring because of a tender shoulder. He is being tested to see if he can open the season.

Howell termed the outing--he threw a 15-pitch seventh inning--as “decent.”

“I’ll wait and see how it feels tomorrow. If it feels good, then I’ll try to come back and throw on Sunday. . . . It’s kind of hard to expect to be really sharp in your second outing of spring.”

The Dodgers advanced two runners as far as third base in the eighth inning. Benzinger tried to score on Mike Scioscia’s fly ball, but Benzinger was out at the plate on Felix’s throw and Ron Tingley’s block of the plate. The Dodgers stranded the other, Jose Offerman.

Dodger starter Orel Hershiser went only three innings because he pitched Monday and is the starter for the Dodgers’ second game of the season Tuesday. He gave up three singles and no runs, and contributed a nifty, behind-the-back grab of Von Hayes’ comeback grounder in the first inning.

Jim Abbott, the Angel starter, went deep into a lot of counts, but pitched five scoreless innings.

Scott Lewis, who started 11 games last season and is battling for a spot in the bullpen, followed Abbott and gave up six hits in 1 2/3 innings, twice getting in jams.

The Angels’ Bryan Harvey struck out the side in the ninth.

Freeway Series Notes

Angel Manager Buck Rodgers said Lance Parrish could use a few line drives to save his job, in jeopardy after a .216 average last season and a poor spring. Parrish started the Freeway Series on the bench. “Hopefully, I’ll get the opportunity to play the next few days,” said Parrish, who has four hits in 36 spring at-bats. Rodgers has met with Whitey Herzog, senior vice president for player personnel, about the catching situation. Parrish has a guaranteed contract for $2.25 million this season, which the Angels would have to pay even if they release him. “It’s a matter of (Angel executives) deciding what they want to do,” Rodgers said. “There’s money involved.” The Angels might delay a move, even if they reach a decision during the weekend, because of the possibility of injury to another catcher.

Dodger outfielder Eric Davis, who has been experiencing irritation in his neck and right arm this spring, had his condition diagnosed as a small herniated disk in his neck Friday, but he was in the lineup. Davis will continue daily treatments and was given full clearance to keep playing. . . . Angel outfielder Chad Curtis and Dodger catcher Mike Piazza were named the outstanding rookies of their respective clubs this spring.