Dodgers Escape in 10th : Baseball: They edge the Astros for the second night in a row, 5-4, on a botched play at the plate.

One of the best defenses in the National League faltered Tuesday night, and its timing couldn’t have been worse. Houston Astro third baseman Ken Caminiti, double-clutching a routine grounder with the bases loaded in the 10th inning, made a wide throw home.

Chris Gwynn, running for Mike Piazza, slid into the plate and was called safe when catcher Tony Eusebio lunged for the ball, umpire Randy Marsh ruling Eusebio’s foot had come off the bag, giving the Dodgers a 5-4 victory.

It was the Dodgers’ fourth extra-inning victory, and it came on the heels of a 9-8 ninth-inning comeback victory Monday night.

The Dodgers, hoping to revisit their glory years, showed again how they plan to get there as their young nucleus of Eric Karros, Mike Piazza and Raul Mondesi combined for seven of the team’s 13 hits and also sparkled defensively.

“When I first came here in 1992 they were going in the direction of younger players, but we were more heavily loaded with guys from other teams,” said Karros, who was three for five with a home run. “But the club made a commitment to younger guys and some took advantage of it, and some didn’t. So far, it’s worked out well, but it’s still early.

“We are still not at .500. But some guys have stepped up to fill in the holes and hopefully the club will produce a winner for a few years to come.”

Piazza’s leadoff grounder to center started the 10th, and a double by Karros, who had homered in the second, put Gwynn on third. After an intentional walk to Cory Snyder, Carlos Hernandez’s grounder off reliever Mitch Williams scored the winning run on Eusebio’s error.

“It was hit right to Caminiti, so I knew I was out,” Gwynn said. “So I was just trying to take out (Eusebio) so he can’t turn two.”

It was quite a turnaround in a game that was full of great defensive plays, featuring the new rookie of the year candidate, Mondesi.

Mondesi threw out Craig Biggio by a car length when he tried to stretch a single in the sixth. In the 10th, Mondesi ran down a hard-hit liner by Caminiti, catching the ball and hitting the right field wall.

“They know I have an arm, so I don’t know why they keep running,” said Mondesi, rewarded with two standing ovations.

“It was great to see the fans get behind him,” said Piazza, who was two for five. “As a player you feed off it and it gets your adrenaline going. This ballclub has a lot of heart.”

Mondesi had a chance to win the game in the ninth, but Brett Butler missed the bunt on a squeeze play and Mondesi, trying to score from third, was tagged out.

Mondesi, in the on-deck circle in the 10th, was called back in favor of left-handed batter Henry Rodriguez. The Astros, who had lost their leader when Manager Terry Collins was ejected during the ninth for arguing a call, had a right-handed reliever on the mound, and Manager Tom Lasorda likes to play the percentages.

“I was mad, but we won, so it’s OK,” said Mondesi, whose double in the fourth inning put the Dodgers ahead, 3-2.

But the Astros countered with the left-handed Williams, who gave up three runs in the ninth inning Monday to lose the game. Lasorda countered with Hernandez with the bases loaded and one out.

“I hate losing no matter how we lose, “ Williams said. “I’m not responsible for calling the play, I never saw (Eusebio’s) foot leave the plate, it looked to me like he was out.

“I’m sick to death of all this . . . . no one in this league is going to give you respect. You have to go out and earn it. I am going to keep going out there and doing what I have to do. “

Starter Ramon Martinez turned in a solid effort, holding the Astros to five hits and four runs in nine innings.

Jim Gott (4-1) pitched a perfect 10th.

Martinez struggled for most of his first five starts this season, before breaking through last Thursday against the San Francisco Giants, when he earned his first victory.

He struggled through the fourth inning Tuesday, helping the Astros take a 2-1 lead with two walks. But he retired the final six batters in order, before giving way to Mitch Webster, who pinch hit in the ninth.

Until the 10th inning, the game was worth watching for its defense.