Reds Fire Bowden, Boone, Two Coaches

The Cincinnati Reds on Monday fired General Manager Jim Bowden, Manager Bob Boone and coaches Tim Foli and Tom Robson shortly before their game against the Philadelphia Phillies. The Reds plan to wait until after the World Series to hire replacements.

Bowden became general manager in 1992 at age 31, then the youngest in major league history, and had the second-longest tenure in the majors when he was fired. The Reds reached the playoffs once during his tenure.

The Reds expected to contend with a $57-million payroll -- 17th in the majors -- but after beating the Phillies they are 47-58 and 10 games behind first-place Houston in the National League Central.

Third baseman Aaron Boone, the manager’s son, was making toast in the clubhouse lounge when his father called him over and told him the news.

Bob Boone, who had a 190-238 record with the Reds, left the clubhouse shortly after being fired and declined to comment. Bowden declined to answer questions when reached by phone.

Bench coach Ray Knight took over for Monday’s game, and will be the third base and hitting coach for the rest of the season. Dave Miley, the Reds’ triple-A manager since 1996, will be interim manager until the next general manager hires one.

Assistant General Manager Brad Kullman and Scouting Director Leland Maddox will take over Bowden’s duties in the interim.

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Kansas City acquired left-handed reliever Graeme Lloyd from the New York Mets for minor league right-hander Jeremy Hill.

Lloyd, 35, is 1-2 with a 3.31 earned-run average.

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After his appeal was denied, Pittsburgh Pirate catcher Jason Kendall will begin serving a three-game suspension today for his role in a bench-clearing brawl against Tampa Bay in June.... The Pirates put pitcher Kris Benson on the 15-day disabled list because his right shoulder was bothering him.... Boston Red Sox left-hander Casey Fossum was optioned to triple-A Pawtucket to get more work. Fossum spent more than a month on the disabled list because of tendinitis and has been a reliever since being activated July 17. He is 5-4 with a 5.56 ERA.