Now What? Myers Joins Reds’ Casualty List : Injuries: Pitcher, forced into a starting role because of team’s ailments, leaves during the second inning because of a sore arm.

The Cincinnati Reds’ free fall continues, and the defending World Series champions can’t find a net.

The Reds lost their fourth game to the Dodgers in the last eight days and sank to fifth place in the National League West with Monday’s 3-2 loss at Dodger Stadium, 8 1/2 games off the lead.

Think the Dodgers have been struggling lately? The Reds have lost 23 of 32 games. They also suffered the early loss of starter Randy Myers, who left the game because of an injury during the second inning after having thrown 53 pitches.

Myers had not started a game since his triple-A days in 1985 until the Reds inserted him into their injury-riddled rotation three weeks ago after 293 consecutive relief appearances.

The left-hander was making his fifth start Monday when he left because of a sore left biceps, further depleting the Reds’ staff. The Reds only recently returned Jose Rijo and Norm Charlton to active duty after injuries, and Jack Armstrong--an all-star a year ago--was demoted to the minors after pitching ineffectively.

Myers complained of after starter Bob Ojeda singled against him in the second. Myers pitched to one more batter, walking Brett Butler, then removed himself. He will be re-examined today before a medical evaluation is made.

“He pulled something. We’ll see (how he is),� Red Manager Lou Piniella said.

As the Reds try to stay within sight of the contenders, the pitching staff that shut down Oakland last October now includes Mo Sanford, who made his major league debut last week, and reliever Milt Hill, who has eight innings of major league experience.

Reliever Rob Dibble, one of the few consistently healthy pitchers on the staff, gave up the losing run in the ninth Monday, a single up the middle by Juan Samuel.

“We . . . lost on a . . . bad pitch,� Dibble said.