Angels fire manager Maddon amid 12-game losing streak

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Angels' free fall from having one of the best records in the American League to a disastrous losing streak cost Joe Maddon his job Tuesday.

General manager Perry Minasian recommended making the move to owner Arte Moreno, then drove to Maddon's house to give him the news.

Third base coach Phil Nevin will be the interim manager for the rest of the season. The Angels tied a club record with their 13th straight loss Tuesday night, falling 6-5 to the Boston Red Sox in 10 innings.

The Angels — who are 27-30 — lost 13 straight during the 1988-89 seasons. The defeat surpasses the 1988 mark for longest single-season skid in club history.

“Looking at the last couple of days is really when I started thinking about making a change. And I’m trying not to make emotional decisions. I’ll be honest, I’ve been emotional the past couple of days. There have been some really tough losses,” Minasian said.

The 68-year-old Maddon went 130-148 with the Angels, who hired him before the coronavirus-shortened 2020 season for his self-described dream job. Maddon spent three decades of his career as a player and coach for the Angels before going on to an impressive managerial career that has included three Manager of the Year awards.

The Angels were beaten 1-0 in Maddon’s final game by the Red Sox and journeyman starter Michael Wacha, who threw a three-hitter against the Halos’ star-studded lineup Monday night. Los Angeles closed a seven-game East road trip Sunday with a 9-7 loss in Philadelphia after rookie Bryson Stott hit a game-winning, three-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning. The Angels were leading 6-2 in the eighth inning before Bryce Harper tied it on a grand slam.

“The last two weeks have