Last-Place Blue Jays Fire Cito Gaston

Cito Gaston, who managed the Toronto Blue Jays to World Series championships in 1992 and ‘93, was fired Wednesday with his team in last place in the American League East.

Pitching coach Mel Queen was named interim manager.

Gaston is the third manager fired this season, following Cincinnati’s Ray Knight and Kansas City’s Bob Boone.

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Boston’s Steve Avery is scheduled to make his 18th start of the season tonight, triggering an option that would allow him to return next season at $3.9 million next season. But Avery also said “you’d have to be a little crazy to come back to something like this.” . . . Randy Johnson, as expected, will pitch the opener for the Seattle Mariners in their division series against the Baltimore Orioles starting next Wednesday.