Arizona Fires Brenly

The Arizona Diamondbacks fired Manager Bob Brenly on Friday in the midst of their worst season since their expansion campaign of 1998.

Third base coach Al Pedrique was named manager for the rest of the season.

Hall of Famer Robin Yount, the team’s bench coach, resigned out of loyalty to Brenly, General Manager Joe Garagiola Jr. said. Pitching coach Chuck Kniffin also was fired.

Pedrique, who played parts of three seasons with the New York Mets, Pittsburgh and Detroit, was a manager in the minors for eight seasons. He managed Arizona’s triple-A Tucson Sidewinders in 2002 and 2003.

“I have mixed feelings about the whole situation,” Pedrique said, “because definitely I wanted to manage in the major leagues. But it never crossed my mind that it would be like this.”

Pedrique and Ozzie Guillen of the Chicago White Sox are the only Venezuelans to manage in the majors. Pedrique said the only immediate change would be to reinstall Alex Cintron as the everyday shortstop.

“‘In no way, shape or form is this change a reflection on Bob Brenly,” said Jerry Colangelo, the team’s chairman and chief executive. “Nor are we putting any blame on Bob Brenly for the state of affairs of our baseball team.

“It’s so clouded with the number of injuries and the bad luck we’ve had this year, and the exodus of certain players this year, that he’s a casualty. It’s as simple as that.”

A former major league catcher and television analyst, Brenly was the second manager in the franchise’s six-year history. He took over from fired Buck Showalter after the 2000 season and directed the team to a dramatic 2001 World Series triumph over the New York Yankees.

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Florida Marlin ace Josh Beckett will return from the disabled list and start Monday against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The World Series MVP has made only one start since May 30 because of a blister on his right middle finger. He returned from the disabled list June 17 but went back on it after straining a back muscle against the White Sox.

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Boston Red Sox third baseman Bill Mueller returned from the disabled list, but the team lost one of its top relievers, Scott Williamson.

Williamson went on the 15-day disabled list because of a nerve problem in his right forearm.

Also Friday, the Red Sox acquired two pitchers in separate trades with the Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres.

Boston obtained left-hander Jimmy Anderson from the Cubs and right-hander Brandon Puffer from the Padres. Both players were sent to triple-A Pawtucket.

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The Oakland Athletics put left-handed reliever Arthur Rhodes on the 15-day disabled list because of a strained back that has kept him from pitching since June 22. Rhodes is the sixth A’s player currently on the disabled list. Oakland has used the DL eight times this season after needing it only six times in 2003.

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Houston Astro pitcher Wade Miller has a frayed right rotator cuff and expects to return after resting it for two weeks. Miller, put on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday, had an MRI exam Thursday that confirmed the diagnosis.

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Outfielder Ruben Mateo was traded by the Pittsburgh to the Kansas City Royals for cash.

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Going South

Bob Brenly, left, was fired Friday in his fourth season as manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks:

*--* Year Team W L Pct. Pos. 2001 Arizona 92 70 568 1 2002 Arizona 98 64 605 1 2003 Arizona 84 78 519 3 2004 Arizona 29 50 367 4 Totals 303 262 536

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POSTSEASON RECORD

* 2001: 11-6 (.647), won World Series.

* 2002: 0-3 (.000).

* Totals: 11-9 (.550).