Garner, Smith Fired by Tigers

Somebody had to go following the Detroit Tigers’ 0-6 start. The team decided two was better, so it fired Manager Phil Garner and General Manager Randy Smith on Monday.

The dismissal of Garner tied the quickest firing of a manager who started the season since 1900, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Baltimore fired Cal Ripken Sr. in 1988 after the Orioles lost six games en route to an 0-21 start.

“You could bring in MacArthur, with what they gave him to work with, and he’s probably not going to come out with more wins,” Tiger outfielder Bobby Higginson said.

The Tigers haven’t had a winning record or a winning April since 1993.

“It’s not only a short-term decision, it’s a long-term decision,” said Tiger President Dave Dombrowski, who will add the general manager’s duties. “We don’t have a championship-caliber club, but we haven’t played well either.”

Luis Pujols, the Tigers’ bench coach, will take over as manager of baseball’s only winless team on an interim basis. His debut was postponed when Monday’s game against Chicago was rained out.

Felipe Alou, fired last year as Montreal’s manager, was considered a top candidate to wind up with the Tigers’ job.

Dombrowski said he has not contacted Alou, who was Montreal’s manager while Dombrowski was the Expos’ general manager from 1986-91.

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“We will look to interview managers as soon as possible,” Dombrowski said.

Baltimore Oriole owner Peter Angelos was added to management’s negotiating committee.... Texas Ranger reliever Rich Rodriguez will miss at least two months following surgery on his left shoulder to correct a circulatory problem in his pitching hand.