Harkey Still Has a Shot at Fifth Spot

Manager Tom Lasorda said Mike Harkey’s only chance of making the Dodger roster is as the fifth starter, and Harkey’s performance Friday kept him in the running for that spot. Harkey struggled at the outset, yielding three hits and two earned runs in the first inning to the Florida Marlins at Melbourne, Fla., but he settled down and retired the final eight batters he faced in a 7-5, 10-inning victory.

Catcher Mike Piazza praised his control. Pitching coach Dave Wallace praised his poise. And Lasorda praised his perseverance.

“I’m just going to worry about Mike Harkey,” said Harkey, who’s being tutored by Sandy Koufax. “If Mike Harkey does what he’s capable of doing, good things will happen. I believe I should be on the team. . . .

“When you’re sitting at home the first day of spring training and you don’t have a job, you think there’s something wrong with this game. But I like being in the position where I have no idea what is going to happen, and see how far I can take it.

“It’s a perseverance thing. I think it’s matured me a lot.”

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Hideo Nomo pitched four hitless innings, striking out four and walking three, in a B game. He was not particularly sharp, throwing only 34 strikes in 64 pitches, but he said he’s on course to be ready for the season.

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Piazza said that he’s beginning to worry about first baseman Eric Karros, his closest friend on the team, who still has not played a game because of his hamstring injury.

“It’s not funny anymore,” Piazza said. “It’s something to be concerned about now. It’s not a critical time, but you’d like to see him start to get some at-bats.”

Trainer Charlie Strasser said that Karros will be 100% by opening day.

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Reliever Darren Hall has all but cemented a spot in the bullpen with his latest performance. He entered the game with one out and two runners on base in the ninth inning and pitched a hitless 1 1/3 innings for the victory. . . . Third baseman Juan Castro hit a game-winning, two-run homer in the 10th inning, his first homer in an A game. Right fielder Raul Mondesi homered in the third inning for his first extra-base hit of the spring.