[0] DODGERS HAVE TROUBLE PLAYING CATCH VS. A'S : OAKLAND 7, DODGERS 3.

Byline: Matt McHale Daily News Staff Writer

All right, who brought the Kryptonite?

After all, this is Charles Johnson, who for the last three years has been the best defensive catcher in the National League, with the major-league record of 172 consecutive errorless games.

Monday night, though, Johnson dropped a throw from Ramon Martinez in the first inning that could have cost the Dodgers a 7-3 loss to the Oakland A's and another game in the standings.

There is no telling how the Dodgers would have fared without that drop, considering A's rookie right-hander Blake Stein struck out 10 and came within two outs of a complete game. But they never recovered after Johnson's error on a certain inning-ending, double-play grounder to the mound by Mike Blowers scored two runs and led to two more.

``If only I could have gotten out of the first inning,'' Martinez said. ``It was just a little thing, but it turned out to be big.''

It didn't seem to matter that Oakland's Jason Giambi hit a three-run homer off Mark Guthrie in the seventh. The Dodgers were less than one inning into a six-game homestand against sub-.500 opponents and hoping to make a move in the National League West. Now, they are 8-1/2 games behind San Francisco.

``I thought I had it, but when I went to squeeze it, I lost it,'' said Johnson, who has four errors this season after making none last year. ``It was the type of play where I should have gotten him out of the jam. It could have really changed the outcome of the game.''

Martinez (7-3) was in search of his sixth consecutive victory, but unlike his last start when he shook off a rocky first inning, there was no comeback. Martinez, who walked five and allowed six hits and four earned runs, was not on his game from the start. Before Johnson's error, Martinez loaded the bases with two walks and a base hit.

He did the same thing in his previous start, last Wednesday against the Cardinals, but recovered to allow one run in seven innings. He also walked five in that game and now has 16 in his last three starts since his brilliant 7-1 victory at May 23 at Arizona when he retired 24 consecutive batters.

Against the Cardinals, who were playing without the injured McGwire, the Dodgers scored seven runs.

``I am not going to worry about the walks,'' Martinez said. ``I always walk guys. As long as we're winning, walks don't matter.''

Stein (2-3), acquired last July in the trade that sent slugger Mark McGwire to the St. Louis Cardinals, allowed a home run to Paul Konerko in the fifth and Eric Karros in the ninth but little else. It seemed hard to believe that he made his major-league debut just one month ago.

After Karros opened the second inning with a single, Stein retired the next 11 Dodgers, seven by strikeouts. Konerko then homered with two outs in the fifth, but Stein struck out Johnson to end the inning.

Stein, who made his major-league debut May 10 against the Chicago White Sox, was routed by the Angels 12-2 on May 21 at Edison Field. But against the Dodgers, he was masterful.

``I was just trying to be aggressive, throwing fastballs, mixing in sliders at certain times,'' Stein said. ``I went out there tonight, tried to stay focused. I was able to concentrate the whole night.''

Stein, who threw 130 pitches, also struck out Johnson twice, ending the catcher's hitting streak at nine games. When it began, Johnson was at the end of an 0-for-35 slump at the plate.

Nobody cared since his defense behind the plate was so spectacular. Even after he went 15 for 36 during the streak with three homers, three doubles and six RBI, everyone talked about his catching.

``Don't put this game all on him,'' Martinez said. ``He has done a great job with all the pitchers. We all love him. He is the best.''

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PHOTO (Color) JASON GIAMBI

Oakland slugger hit a three-run homer that added to the Dodgers' frustrations.