Fire not in the Dodgers' belly Saturday in 6-1 loss to Marlins

Just another night for the Dodgers at the ballpark: Dogs in the right-field pavilion, a small but smoky Dodger Stadium fire forcing several thousand fans to be relocated in the fifth inning and another weak offensive effort on the field.

Even by the Dodgers’ standards, it added up to a bizarre 6-1 loss to the Florida Marlins on Saturday before an announced crowd of 29,971. And some 550 dogs.

Nancy Bea Hefley best learn to play some eerie organ music before first pitch.

The Los Angeles Fire Department said the fire occurred in small cinderblock storage facility just below the reserved level. The smoke drifted down from the upper deck like fog rolling in, and persisted until the eighth inning.

Fans along the first base side of the reserved level and upper deck were calmly relocated to the other side of the stadium. There being another sparse crowd, there was no difficulty finding them open seats.

No one had to be evacuated, but there was enough smoke to lightly burn eyes. The LAFD said more than 40 fireman responded. No one was reported hurt.

The night began oddly enough with the Dodgers’ second "Bark in the Park" night. Fans who brought their pooches were allowed to circle the field before the game, eventually taking seats in the right-field pavilion.

Seems the dog days of summer have arrived a tad early for the Dodgers.

With Florida ace Josh Johnson on the disabled list, Marlins reliever Brian Sanches was forced to make the first start of his career.

The Dodgers roughed him up for one run in his three innings, which was more than they managed against four other Marlins relievers.

The Dodgers' offensive woes continue, no matter the hurler. In their last 14 games, the Dodgers have scored more than three runs only three times and have been held to one run or less six times.

Saturday they managed a total of six hits. A Matt Kemp double drove in their only run.

All while Hiroki Kuroda was having another off night. And when starting pitching fails the Dodgers, the news is never good.

Kuroda gave up five runs on 10 hits in his 5 1/3 innings of work. It was his second consecutive poor start, having surrendered six runs in 5 2/3 innings against the Chicago White Sox in an interleague game last week.

ALSO:

Is James Loney finally on the rebound?

National League West refuses to let Dodgers go

-- Steve Dilbeck

Photo: A couple of dogs sporting Dodgers scarves parade on the field during the "Bark in the Park" stroll before the game against the Florida Marlins on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium. Credit: Stephen Dunn / Getty Images

Comments

[alanw19]

june 22

go away frank. just go away.

[Labeldude]

The corgis are cute though.

[KoufaxFan]

McCrap's Disgraced Dodgers continue...

[Dodger Dog]

Jaime and Frank look like they are getting along just fine in the photo above.

[brian]

same old lineup same old result. Is this not the definition of insanity? Heartless owner , gutless team team!!!!

[FormerLifelongDodgerFan]

Such a boring team.

[Fan]

And the Freak Show goes on.

[SpareFoot Los Angeles]

Fires in public buildings often start in their storage facilities. It's fortunate that the fire was contained.