BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE MAJOR LEAGUES : Lamont Fired as White Sox Manager

Gene Lamont, the American League manager of the year only two seasons ago, was fired Friday by the Chicago White Sox after the team’s miserable start.

The White Sox, with the fifth-highest average salary in the majors, were 11-20, the third-worst record in baseball, after being swept four in a row by Cleveland, their biggest rival in the AL Central.

Terry Bevington, the team’s third base coach, was named manager.

Lamont, 48, was in his fourth season as manager.

“I knew it was a possibility, but I thought because of what we accomplished the last two years I’d get more than 30 games,” Lamont said in Chicago.

“I thought the series with Cleveland would give us a chance to get back into it,” White Sox General Manager Ron Schueler said. “But it didn’t, and I’m not going to let it slide anymore.

Lamont, 48, was hired as manager Nov. 26, 1991. He compiled a 258-210 record with the team.

The White Sox also fired pitching coach Jackie Brown and bullpen coach Rick Peterson. They were replaced by Don Cooper, pitching coach at triple-A Nashville, and Roly de Armas, bullpen catcher.

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Cincinnati Red pitching ace Jose Rijo will miss a couple of starts after medical tests revealed tendinitis in his pitching elbow.

The Reds plan to put Rijo and center fielder Deion Sanders on the 15-day disabled list today. Sanders severely sprained his left ankle while trying to steal Tuesday night in Pittsburgh and is on crutches.

Rijo, who couldn’t throw his slider in Thursday’s loss at Pittsburgh, was found to have the same injury that has landed him on the disabled list twice before. Rijo is 3-3 this season with a 4.40 earned-run average.

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Atlanta Brave outfielder David Justice will miss two weeks after learning of a partially torn ligament in his right shoulder. Justice, who hurt his shoulder attempting to make a diving catch against Philadelphia on May 6 and missed nine games before returning to the lineup, said, “Rehab it and it’ll be better. I’m not going to have any surgery.” . . . The Baltimore Orioles put outfielder Andy Van Slyke on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to May 31, because of a strained left forearm.