Struggling Marlins Fire Boles

John Boles was fired as manager of the Florida Marlins on Monday, replaced on an interim basis by Hall of Famer Tony Perez.

The move came one day after relief pitcher Dan Miceli blasted Boles and his coaching staff for their lack of major league playing experience.

General Manager Dave Dombrowski made the announcement 2 1/2 hours before the Marlins’ game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Pittsburgh.

“He’s been relieved of his duties,” Dombrowski said. “But I think it’s probably a mutual decision.

“Bolsey felt he had lost the clubhouse. That happens sometimes. If the manager has that feeling, that he doesn’t have the answer, you make a decision and it’s a hard decision.”

Dombrowski met with Boles on Sunday night.

“John said, ‘If you brought me in here as director of player development and asked me to analyze the club, I would tell you: A) The team is underachieving; and B) You need to make a managerial change,’ ” Dombrowski said.

Dombrowski said Miceli’s remarks contributed to the move.

“It sure pushed forward a lot of the decisions to be made,” he said.

The St. Louis Cardinals won’t say what’s next for struggling Rick Ankiel.

Team officials had planned to meet with the wild 21-year-old left-hander on Monday, a day before his next scheduled start for triple-A Memphis. Manager Tony La Russa and General Manager Walt Jocketty both had little to say about the situation.

A likely next destination for Ankiel, who has a 20.77 earned-run average with 17 walks and 12 wild pitches in 4 1/3 innings in the minors, is extended spring training at Jupiter, Fla.

Kurt Birkins, a left-hander from Woodland Hills Pierce College, has signed with the Baltimore Orioles for $395,000.

Birkins was drafted last year in the 33rd round by the Orioles. He signed with UC Irvine last November. Birkins led El Camino Real High to the 1998 City Championship.