Houston, TX (Sports Network) - The Houston Astros named Tony DeFrancesco
interim manager on Sunday after firing Brad Mills late Saturday night.
DeFrancesco had been managing Houston's Triple-A affiliate, the Oklahoma City
RedHawks.
The Astros announced following a 12-4 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks that
they were relieving Mills, hitting coach Mike Barnett and first base coach
Bobby Meacham of their duties.
General manager Jeff Luhnow appointed Ty Van Burkleo hitting coach and Dan
Radison first base coach, both on an interim basis.
The Astros have the worst record in the majors this season.
Mills was in the final year of a three-year contract that had a club option
for 2013. He went 171-274 in as manager of the Astros, who lost a club-record
106 games last year.
The Sports Network