Parrish Makes Case for Employment : Freeway Series: With decision on his future due today, struggling Angel catcher has two hits in 5-0 victory over Dodgers.

An exhibition baseball game, no matter how attractive the venue, is meaningless.

Unless, that is, your career rides on it.

Angel catcher Lance Parrish, 35, facing baseball extinction entering Saturday night’s Freeway Series game at Dodger Stadium, came through when it counted in the Angels’ 5-0 victory over the Dodgers before a crowd of 35,421.

Angel Manager Buck Rodgers put it bluntly before the game.

“Obviously, he’s coming off a bad year and he hasn’t had a good spring,” Rodgers said. “Right now, he feels good. I’d like to translate that into a couple of hard-hit balls.”

Translation: Parrish doubled to right-center field in his first at-bat and drove in a run with a single to left in the sixth inning, surviving to play another day.

Parrish batted .216 last season and entered Saturday’s game batting .111.

“I picked the wrong spring to have a bad spring,” Parrish said. “I’m just starting to feel comfortable at the plate.”

Is it too late?

Rodgers said the Angels will make a decision after today’s game as to whether Parrish will make the opening-day roster.

“I’ll spill my guts,” said Rodgers, who added that it’s possible the team will carry three catchers.

It was a shaky performance for the Dodger hitters, shut out on consecutive nights, and starting pitcher Tom Candiotti, who introduced himself to the home crowd by allowing three earned runs and 11 hits in 5 1/3 innings.

Translation: Candiotti’s knuckleball wasn’t working well.

“When it’s not on, it doesn’t do it’s usual dance,” Dodger Manager Tom Lasorda said.

Candiotti got off to an unfortunate start.

After Luis Polonia singled to open the game, Candiotti picked him off, but Polonia escaped back to first on a botched run down and later scored on a single by Gary Gaetti.

The Angels added two runs in the sixth inning off Candiotti with RBI singles by Parrish and Don Robinson, the Angel pitcher and a good hitter who won’t get the chance this season.

The Angels made it 4-0 in the eighth inning when Dick Schofield’s sacrifice fly scored Alvin Davis, and 5-0 in the ninth on a run-scoring single by Gaetti.

Today, the Dodgers attempt to score their first run of the series. “We didn’t hit the ball well at all,” Lasorda said.

Certainly not against Angel starter Joe Grahe, who allowed no hits and struck out two in three innings.

Freeway Series Notes

Dodger reliever Jay Howell, who made only his second spring appearance Friday night because of a sore shoulder, reported no serious side effects Saturday. Howell is expected to pitch again today, after which a decision will be made on whether he will make the final roster or open the season on the disabled list. . . . Dodger first baseman Todd Benzinger, who played nine innings in the series opener after not appearing in a game since March 18 because of a sore left calf muscle, “had no problem with irritation,” therapist Pat Screnar said. . . . Infielder Mike Sharperson (sore hamstring) also reported no aggravation after playing in Friday’s game.

Angel Manager Buck Rodgers on Friday night’s opener. “It was one of the most bizarre 1-0 games I’ve seen in my life.” . . . In the game, four Angel pitchers combined on the 12-hit shutout. Scott Lewis gave up six hits in 1 2/3 innings. . . . “I lost track of how many guys Scott Lewis put on base and didn’t score,” Rodgers said. . . . Dodger center fielder Brett Butler was a late scratch Saturday because of a sinus infection. He was replaced in the lineup by Mitch Webster. . . . Angel shortstop Dick Schofield, who has lost his job to Gary DiSarcina, went three for three with one RBI. “I don’t think it changes anything,” Schofield said afterward. “I think I’m still the backup for Tuesday.” . . . Chuck Finley of the Angels faces the Dodgers’ Kevin Gross in the series finale today at 1.