‘Visitor’ Wallach Beats the Dodgers

Third baseman Tim Wallach, who spent the last three seasons with the Dodgers, has found a new home with the Angels.

Wallach, who signed a minor league contract last December, broke a 1-1 tie with a fifth-inning homer off Tom Candiotti as the Angels won their second consecutive Freeway Series game against the Dodgers, 3-1, Sunday before 33,953 at Dodger Stadium.

Wallach, who batted .400 with three doubles, two homers and one triple in 18 games this spring, also singled in the go-ahead run as the Angels scored five runs in the ninth inning of Saturday night’s 9-6 victory over the Dodgers.

“It’s definitely different being in this [visiting] clubhouse,” Wallach said. “It’s been a while since I’ve been over here. It’s good to see everybody, I have a lot of good friends on [the Dodgers].”

Wallach, 38, will back up rookie George Arias, who made 29 errors in the minors last season.

After Wallach’s homer, Dodger first baseman Eric Karros wrote Arias’ name in the dirt. When Wallach, who started at first base, took the field in the bottom of the inning, he scratched it out and replaced it with an obscenity.

“I really can’t stand Wallach,” Karros said, joking. “I’m glad he’s gone.

“His leadership and what he brings to the clubhouse you can’t replace. The guy can still play.”

Karros, who batted .579 in the first month of last season, appears primed to get off to a fast start again this season.

Karros, who went hitless in his first eight at-bats in the first two games of the Freeway Series while recovering from a shoulder injury, singled in his first two at-bats and drove in the Dodgers’ only run.

“It’s been a frustrating spring for me, but I’m ready to go,” he said. “I’m going to be realistic about this thing. It’ll probably take some time, and I can’t expect to jump right out of the chute and expect to be swinging for the fences in the first week. Everyone’s aware of that and in time things will come together.”

Angel right fielder Tim Salmon, the Freeway Series MVP, led off the second inning of Saturday’s game with a home run and led off the second inning of Sunday’s game with a homer off Candiotti, who gave up three runs and five hits in six innings.