Phillies fire GM Ruben Amaro Jr.

Losing consistently leads to plenty of change.

The Phillies fired general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. yesterday, completing a cycle of turnover for a team going through its worst season in 43 years.

Manager Ryne Sandberg already resigned in June and Andy MacPhail was hired to replace outgoing president Pat Gillick after the season. "We needed a fresh perspective, a fresh approach," MacPhail said.

Assistant general manager Scott Proefrock replaces Amaro as interim general manager. MacPhail hopes to hire a new GM before the end of October. He hasn't made a decision on interim manager Pete Mackanin.

"It's never an easy decision to make a change," MacPhail said. "Ruben has had a direct impact on some of the best years in the team's history. He helped to create some great memories for Phillies fans with his accomplishments, but in order to return to a top-contending club, we believe this is the right thing to do as we continue the rebuilding process."

The Phillies have the worst record in the majors at 54-86 and will miss the postseason for the fourth straight year after winning five consecutive NL East titles. They're on pace to lose 100 games for the first time since going 47-107 in 1961 and their .386 winning percentage is their lowest since 1972.

MacPhail said he didn't make a final decision on Amaro's status until three or four days ago. He made the move with 22 games remaining to give Amaro, who was in the final year of his contract, an opportunity to pursue one of the four openings for GM jobs.

Amaro replaced Gillick, who retired after the Phillies won the 2008 World Series and became a senior adviser. Gillick then replaced David Montgomery as team president on an interim basis last year and chose MacPhail to be his successor in June. Amaro previously served 10 years as assistant GM.

Amaro rose from team batboy in 1980-83 to playing for the Phillies for five seasons in the 1990s. He guided the Phillies to the 2009 NL pennant, three division titles and the most wins in franchise history (102) in 2011.

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Indians 7, Tigers 5: Michael Brantley homered twice, including a tiebreaking two-run drive in the eighth inning, to help host Cleveland gain ground in the AL wild-card race.

Brewers 6, Pirates 4: Logan Shafer and Luis Sardinas had RBI singles in the top of the 13th as the Brewers beat the Pirates for the seventh straight time despite twice having late leads erased by Pittsburgh home runs. Andrew McCutchen's 22nd tied it in the eighth and Gregory Polanco's solo shot off Francisco Rodriguez tied it in the 12th after the Brewers had gone ahead on an RBI single by Ryan Braun.

Reds 11, Cardinals 0: Todd Frazier and Brandon Phillips each homered and had three RBIs for host Cincinnati.

Rockies 4, Padres 3: Nolan Arenado hit his NL-leading 38th homer and centerfielder Charlie Blackmon made a leaping catch near the top of the wall in the ninth for host Colorado. -- AP