Castro: Great Field, No Hit, No Job?

Shortstop Juan Castro’s great glove may not be enough to keep him on the ballclub. He played Friday for the first time since March 7 because of a right quadriceps strain, and is battling infielder Tripp Cromer for a spot on the 25-man roster. Castro was hitless in one at-bat in a 7-6, 10-inning victory over the New York Mets at Port St. Lucie, Fla.

Cromer appears to be ahead.

“I believe I deserve a spot on this team,” said Castro, coming off his first full season in the majors. “In the late innings, the pitchers want good defense in the game, they want someone to catch the ball.”

Many Dodgers said Castro was phenomenal defensively while filling in for second baseman Eric Young and shortstop Jose Vizcaino, who were injured often last season.

Pitcher Darren Dreifort refers to Castro as “Hands of Gold,” and Castro had a comforting effect on the rest of the Dodger staff as well.

“He’s the best fielder, without question, in the organization right now, and he’s the best fielder I’ve ever seen in the organization,” said first baseman Eric Karros, who has been in the organization since 1988. “He doesn’t have a lot of foot speed or a real strong arm, but he makes all the plays he should make and the plays he shouldn’t make.”

Castro batted .195 last season.

Because of his injury, Castro has played in only three games and has one hit in four at-bats. Cromer hit his fourth home run in Thursday’s victory over the St. Louis Cardinals and is batting .206 with eight runs batted in.

Castro, 26, and Cromer, 31, are out of options. It is unlikely either would clear waivers to be sent to triple-A Albuquerque.

Castro is guaranteed $325,000 this season and $400,000 next season in a two-year deal he signed in November. Cromer, who signed a one-year deal in November, will make $285,000 this season, plus $491.80 each day he is on the roster.

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Closer Jeff Shaw made his first appearance Friday, throwing 28 pitches in the Mets’ two-run eighth inning, giving up one hit and two unearned runs. The right-hander said his throwing arm felt good.

“I thought he had good stuff,” pitching coach Charlie Hough said of Shaw, who got off to a late start because he was awaiting the birth of his third child in Ohio when spring training began. “Of course, his location was about the first week of spring training. But his arm speed, and all the things you look for, were fine. He’ll be fine.”

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Third baseman Adrian Beltre was removed from the game in the first inning after he aggravated a groin pull while running to second base on a run-scoring double. . . . Although the Dodgers are pleased with the development of 21-year-old left-hander Onan Masaoka, they are still looking for relief help. General Manager Kevin Malone is working on a couple of deals for a left-handed setup man.