Braves Catch a Break, Then Drop Game : Dodgers: Umpire rules Griffin’s apparent game-ending catch isn’t a catch, but L.A. wins, 2-1, in 11th on a wild throw. Lasorda is ejected for the first time this season.

Even justice has not been coming easily for the Dodgers, who continue to win despite discovering cruel and unusual ways to lose.

For the third time in four games Saturday, they were struck down by misfortune one out from a victory. Only this time the culprit wasn’t an opposing hitter, or a member of their bullpen . . . it was a third-base umpire.

Randy Marsh ruled that shortstop Alfredo Griffin’s apparent game-ending catch of Mark Lemke’s line drive was trapped, allowing the Atlanta Braves to tie the game, 1-1.

But in the 11th inning Lemke threw Juan Samuel’s grounder wildly to first, allowing Lenny Harris to score and give the Dodgers a 2-1 victory before 43,314 at Atlanta Fulton County Stadium.

“If we had lost that game, I would not have come inside,” said Bill Russell, who managed the final two innings after Tom Lasorda was ejected for the first time this season.

“If we had lost that game?” asked Dennis Cook, who was cost a save with the bad call. “ Ohhhh , man. I don’t even want to think what would have happened if we lost that game.”

A weary Lasorda shook his head and said: “What do you think would have happened if we had lost that game? What do you think?”

The Dodgers were too emotionally spent to think after winning for the second time in three games in Atlanta, ensuring at least a split of the weekend series.

“We had won five in a row and everything had gone our way--and now things aren’t going our way, we’re forced to fight everything, and we’re still winning,” Griffin said. “Maybe that is a sign. A good sign.”

Among the blessings they counted Saturday was Harris’ walk against loser Juan Berenguer to start the 11th inning, even though Harris was hitless in his last 18 at-bats.

They were also thankful for Griffin’s ensuing bunt, and Samuel’s hard grounder, and the poor judgment showed by Lemke. He made a sliding catch of Samuel’s grounder and could have held Harris at third if he did not throw to first base, where his sidearm toss was off the glove of Mike Bell.

There was also the contribution of Kevin Gross, who picked up his first save in nearly seven years with a scoreless 11th inning even though he was admittedly as shaky as those watching him.

“I’m not going to kid anyone, I’ve been nervous out there lately trying to save games,” said Gross, who did not walk a batter for just the fifth time in nine relief appearances.

But most of all, the Dodgers were thankful that, because of the victory, they do not have to spend the rest of that season muttering about Marsh and robbery.

The Dodgers were leading, 1-0, with two out in the ninth after Tim Belcher’s 7 2/3 shutout innings and John Candelaria’s relief heroics. Candelaria was removed from the game after throwing his usual one inning, and it was left to Cook to retire Lemke with runners on first and third.

Lemke hit a sinking liner to Griffin. The shortstop back-handed the ball about six inches above the ground, bounced on his knees, then slowly arose, holding up the glove like a trophy.

The television replays showed it to be a clean catch. But Griffin saw Marsh standing along the third base line, holding out his hands in a “safe” posture. And the Dodgers flew into a rage.

Griffin pulled out the ball and began waving it back and forth as he leaped up and down. Marsh was soon surrounded by several of Griffin’s frantic teammates.

“I was showing him the ball saying, ‘Look for red spots! If the ball hit the dirt, look for red spots!” Griffin said. “But he just told me to get the ball out of his face.”

Marsh, who was standing on Griffin’s right, said he thought the ball was smothered, not caught.

“From where I stood, it looked like he trapped the ball,” Marsh said. “I called it immediately, I called it from the heart, I tried to get it right.”

Lasorda immediately jumped in Marsh’s face and argued, then returned to argue after he was informed that the replay showed it to be an out. This was when Marsh ejected him.

“It’s a crime,” Lasorda said afterward, still furious despite the win. “We could have very easily lost that game after we had it won. (Marsh) was 10 feet from the play, just 10 feet!”

Perhaps the most quietly frustrated Dodger was Cook, who has appeared in two games since being recalled from triple-A Albuquerque Thursday but has thrown only six pitches and officially retired nobody.

“Yesterday, I didn’t throw a strike . . . today, I throw a strike, but I can’t get an out,” Cook said with a smile. “I guess tomorrow, maybe I’ll work on getting that out.”

* A MATTER OF OPINION

Fans voting for starters in the All-Star game aren’t partial to the most deserving players. Ross Newhan’s column, C6.

* FAREWELL TO ARMS

The Reds lost two more starting pitchers, and after a 6-2 loss to the Houston Astros, trail the division-leading Dodgers by four games. National League roundup, C6.