PITTSBURGH, June 21 (UPI) -- The Texas Rangers, ranked next to last in the major leagues in earned run average, fired pitching coach Oscar Acosta on Thursday night.
Rangers manager Jerry Narron cited "differences in philosophy and problems in communication that I believe are detrimental to what we are trying to accomplish with the Texas Rangers" for his decision to dismiss Acosta.
Acosta was told of his firing when the team arrived here on Thursday night after beating the Chicago Cubs earlier in the day.
Bullpen coach Jamie Quirk will serve as acting pitching coach until a replacement is named.
The Rangers have a 5.12 ERA, ranking ahead of only the Kansas City Royals (5.28), who fired their pitching coach Al Nipper earlier in the week.
Acosta, 45, had been pitching coach for the Chicago Cubs the past two seasons. Despite having the fourth-lowest ERA in the National League last season, he was fired by the Cubs and hired by the Rangers in November.
