LET THE SEASON BEGIN : DODGERS LOSE, BUT READY FOR OPENER.

Byline: Kevin Modesti Daily News Staff Writer

The Dodgers played the final Freeway Series game Sunday like a team that couldn't wait for Opening Day.

They hurried through a 3-1 loss to Jim Abbott and the Angels in 2 hours, 19 minutes before 33,953 fans at Dodger Stadium, then moved on to Houston and bigger things.

Today at 11:35 a.m. they open against the Astros, and begin to find out what an 18-11 spring record and a lot of brave talk mean against the National League and the Atlanta Braves, the team to beat.

``We can't wait,'' manager Tom Lasorda said as the team packed for the bus ride to the airport. ``We couldn't wait a week ago.''

If being widely picked to defend their NL West title puts pressure on them, the Dodgers aren't showing it.

``This is not a nervous team,'' executive vice president Fred Claire said, smiling at his understatement. ``But I don't think it's an overconfident team.''

Back-to-back losses to the Angels - Sunday's keyed by Tim Salmon and Tim Wallach home runs off Tom Candiotti - couldn't dampen their confidence.

There were two encouraging developments.

Right fielder Raul Mondesi didn't play but reported the strained muscle below his left rib cage had improved, and he expects to be in the lineup today, although Dodgers physical therapist Pat Screnar wouldn't promise.

First baseman Eric Karros, whose sore left shoulder put his roster spot in doubt as recently as Friday, lined two of the Dodgers' four singles off Abbott and drove in Chad Fonville with the Dodgers' run.

Pay no attention to that ice pack on his shoulder.

``I'm ready to go. This team is ready to go,'' Karros declared.

``Some guys have said some (boastful) things. Now we'll find out how good a team we are. I like where we're starting. But it's not where you start that matters.''

They start with fewer glaring weaknesses - as in, none - than any Dodgers team in memory.

``We start out with seven guys we know are going to be in the lineup every day,'' Lasorda says. ``Not since the '70s have we had that.''

Two of them are new to Los Angeles: shortstop Greg Gagne, who replaces Jose Offerman, and 23-homer third baseman Mike Blowers, who takes over for Wallach.

And rookie Todd Hollandsworth, the left-handed-hitting half of a likely left-field platoon, is new to the Opening Day lineup.

``Last year we were last in defense,'' Lasorda said. ``I think we've really improved our defense. I think that itself will help. Your defense does nothing more than make your pitching better. Those pitchers aren't afraid to let them hit the ball.''

Candiotti liked what he saw behind him Sunday - when his knuckleballs stayed in the park.

``I saw plays by the shortstop and the third baseman, and I'm thinking, `This is great!' '' said the Dodgers' No. 4 starter, who is scheduled to pitch Thursday in Chicago against the Cubs. ``For the first time since I've been here (four years), we can beat teams defensively.''

Confident?

Lasorda can't believe everybody's writing about that.

He sent the Dodgers into the season, and whatever that holds, with these words to live by: ``What the hell is wrong with thinking you can win?''

Notes: Wallach, playing first base Sunday, went to his position for the fourth inning to find that Karros had written something in the dirt with his foot: ``ARIAS.'' A gentle reminder that Wallach, the popular ex-Dodger, was beaten out at third base by rookie George Arias. Wallach wrote an obscene reply, drawing laughs from the crowd. A half-inning later, Karros turned it into ``BRICK.'' . . .

Ramon Martinez, who pitches against the Astros' Shane Reynolds today, split his previous Opening Day assignments, losing 8-1 to the San Francisco Giants at home in '92, winning 8-7 over the Marlins in Florida in '95. . . .

In a press-box poll, Salmon (two homers) was named the Fresco Thompson Award winner as Freeway Series MVP, and Hideo Nomo (five shutout innings Friday) received the Lefty Phillips Award as outstanding pitcher. . . .

Gagne, who committed his eighth error Friday night, made several flashy plays in the next two games. . . . After trading numbers, Gagne is wearing No. 7, as he did with the Minnesota Twins, and Billy Ashley No. 21.

DODGERS-ASTROS SERIES Today: Ramon Martinez (17-7 in '95) vs. Shane Reynolds (10-11), 11:35 a.m.

Tuesday: Ismael Valdes (13-11) vs. Mike Hampton (9-8), 5:05 p.m., Channel 5.

Wednesday: Hideo Nomo (13-6) vs. Greg Swindell (10-9), 11:35 a.m.

CAPTION(S):

Photo, Box

PHOTO (color) Tim Wallach is congratulated by Angels c oach Rick Burleson after homering against his former teammates at Dodger Stadium.

Michael Owen Baker / Daily News

Box: Dodgers-Astros Series (see text)