BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Karros’ Hot Start Gains Importance

Dodger first baseman Eric Karros, enjoying one of the finest games of his career Wednesday night, poked his head into the clubhouse in the seventh inning.

He saw catcher Mike Piazza lying on the table and figured he had come out of the game simply for defensive purposes, allowing Carlos Hernandez to catch the final few innings.

“I told him, ‘Way to the run the bases,’ ” Karros said. “He looked at me, like, ‘Oh really?’

“That’s when I knew.”

Piazza suffered a strained right hamstring that could land him on the disabled list and also mean that Karros will be more important than ever to the offense.

Certainly, Karros couldn’t have picked a better time for the finest start of his career. Karros went three for four Wednesday, drove in all four of the Dodgers’ runs with two doubles, and is batting .571 with six RBIs in two games.

Karros, who also made three diving defensive plays, had only seven RBIs last season in the entire month of April.

“I thought I played a pretty good all-around game,” Karros said. “I get knocked a little bit for my defense, and once you get labeled, you can’t shake it.

“It may not look like it, but I take a lot of pride in my defense.”

And just how good a start has this been for Karros?

“I think you’ve got to go back to San Antonio,” said Karros, who played there in 1990. “Hopefully, this is the start of good things to come.”

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The Dodgers still might put third baseman Tim Wallach on the disabled list and have scheduled an appointment today for him to be examined by Michael Watkins, a back specialist.

The Dodger say Wallach’s physical condition is improving daily but acknowledge he won’t be ready to play until at least next week. Although Wallach could pinch-hit, he still is having difficulty running the bases.

“We had him run the bases for the first time in a few days,” said Pat Screnar, Dodger physical therapist, “but he’s still not quite there as far as cutting the bases hard. He hasn’t regressed, but what you don’t know is how fast-forward you can take it.”

If Wallach is put on the disabled list, the Dodgers can make it retroactive to April 22, making him eligible May 8. It would cost Wallach, who gets paid an additional $5,400 for every game played.

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Dodger starter Hideo Nomo left town early Wednesday to prepare for his final appearance tonight for Class-A Bakersfield. He then will start Tuesday against the San Francisco Giants at Candlestick Park, a game that already has drawn nearly 200 media requests.

The Dodgers also have confirmed their plans to start Ismael Valdes Saturday against Atlanta. Valdes will then return to the bullpen until the Dodgers need a fifth starter again May 9 against the San Diego Padres.