Felipe Alou to Guide the Expos : Baseball: He replaces Runnells and becomes the first major league manager from Dominican Republic.

The Montreal Expos fired Tom Runnells Friday and made Felipe Alou the major leagues’ first Dominican manager. If it ignited celebrations in that Caribbean country, the impact was also felt in Los Angeles.

“I’m happy for Felipe, his family and our country,” said Manny Mota, the former Dodger pinch-hitting star and longtime coach and instructor with the club.

“There have been so many great Dominican players that I’m hoping this might open the door for others (to manage),” Mota said. “I would like to get that opportunity. I’m happy here. I’m grateful for my 23 years with the Dodgers, but I would like the chance.”

Mota mentioned Julian Javier, Juan Marichal and Alou’s brother, Matty, as possible Dominican candidates and said of the new Montreal manager that “he was like a father for all of us” who followed him to the major leagues.

“He has had everyone’s respect--not only as a player but as a person,” Mota said. “In the Dominican he was looked on as a role model.”

General Manager Dan Duquette said that the Expos hadn’t jelled under Runnells and hadn’t executed well enough on offense or defense to win close games.

“Felipe knows our personnel inside and out,” Duquette said by phone. “He has the respect of the players and staff. His nationality wasn’t a factor. We looked at his experience and his loyalty to the organization, and the way his clubs pitched and executed when he managed in our farm system.

“I believe we have some hungry players who will respond to the change. I don’t think there’s a dominant team in the division.”

Runnells, 37, became the major leagues’ youngest manager when he was promoted from the third base coaching box by former general manager Dave Dombrowski to replace the fired Buck Rodgers on June 3, 1991. Montreal was 20-29 at the time and had a 51-61 record the rest of the season under Runnells, finishing last in the National League East.

The fourth-place Expos were 17-20 and five games behind the division-leading Pittsburgh Pirates when Runnells became the season’s first managerial casualty.

While criticized by unidentified players in some Montreal newspapers recently for a disciplinary and instructional style better suiting the young players he managed in the minors, Runnells paid the price for a .240 team average and a league-high 36 errors.

Alou was a .286 hitter in 15 seasons with seven major league teams, once appearing in the same San Francisco Giant outfield with brothers Matty and Jesus.

Promoted from Runnells’ coaching staff, Alou, 57, spent 12 years as a manager in the Expos’ farm system and also managed every winter in the Dominican.

He joins Hal McRae of the Kansas City Royals and Cito Gaston of the Toronto Blue Jays as the major leagues’ third minority manager.

“I was proud to be one of the first Dominicans to play in the big leagues, and I am proud to become the first manager,” Alou said.