Losing streak reaches eight as Dodgers fall to Marlins, 5-4

The important game was supposed to be at Dodger Stadium, though it was hard not think what was going on down a couple of freeways wasn’t more significant.

Maybe the Dodgers best hope it was.

Back at Chavez Ravine Friday things grew only darker, the Dodgers managing to lose their eighth consecutive game, this one 5-4 to the lowly Miami Marlins before an announced crowd of 41,721.

So it’s come to this: 34 games into the season and it’s already their longest losing streak since 2008.

They started rookie Matt Magill for the third time, and he was OK. But the way the Dodgers are currently going, OK is not going to get it done.

It was likely Magill’s final start at the major-league level for awhile.

Making his first, and probably only, rehab start down at Lake Elsinore for Class-A Rancho Cucamonga was Zack Greinke.

Greinke didn’t exactly dazzle the Padres’ single-A team (4 1/3 innings, eight runs, three earned runs, six hits, four strikeouts), but he threw 80 pitches without apparent problem to the collarbone he broke less than four weeks ago.

It’s been a remarkably quick comeback for Greinke, who is expected to return to the Dodgers rotation on Wednesday.

The Dodgers only hope they won’t be working on a 12-game losing streak by then.

They actually jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning when Carl Crawford singled, Nick Punto walked and Adrian Gonzalez drilled a three-run homer over the center-field wall against rookie right-hander Jose Fernandez.

Magill made it stand up four three innings, but after issuing a pair of walks, gave up a three-run homer to Derek Dietrich in the fourth. It was the first career homer for Dietrich, just called up from double-A Jacksonville on Wednesday.

The Marlins won it against the inconsistent Ronald Belisario in the seventh.

Catcher Rob Brantly opened the inning with a single and then pinch-hitter Chris Coghlan came within an inch or so of a two-run homer to center. His drive actually hit the top of the padded wall and bounced back on the field for a double.

The umpires reviewed the play, but in a change of recent pace, got the call right. Not that it ended up mattering.

Ex-Dodger Juan Pierre singled to center to drive in the go-ahead run, and although shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria bounced into a double play, it allowed Coghlan to score what proved to be the winning run.

The Dodgers pulled to within one in the eighth after Matt Kemp extended his hitting streak to eight games with a single and stole second. He scored on A.J. Ellis’ third hit of the night.

Magill went five innings for the Dodgers, allowing three runs on three hits and a pair of walks. He struck out two.