BASEBALL

REDS FIRE MANAGER MILEY

The last-place Cincinnati Reds fired manager Dave Miley yesterday and promoted bench coach Jerry Narron to finish the season. Pitching coach Don Gullett also was fired. Vern Ruhle, the Reds’ minor league pitching coordinator, will handle the job for the remainder of the season.

Miley has spent 26 seasons in the Reds’ organization as a player, coach, and manager. He became manager on July 28, 2003, when he replaced Bob Boone. Cincinnati was 125-164 during his three seasons and has had four straight below-.500 years – its longest such streak since 1945-55.

GAGNE WILL MISS REST OF SEASON

Dodgers closer Eric Gagne will have season-ending surgery to fix a sprained ligament in his right elbow. Gagne had a second MRI exam yesterday and doctors concluded he needs Tommy John surgery. The All-Star reliever has a second-degree sprain of his ulnar collateral ligament and was recently placed on the 15-day disabled list.

Gagne, who owns the record of 84 consecutive saves, landed on the disabled list for the first time in his seven-year major league career on April 1 when he hurt his elbow. It was the same elbow that underwent ligament replacement surgery in 1997. He aggravated the injury while pitching against Minnesota on June 12.

HOCKEY

BLACKHAWKS HIRE NEW GM, WHO THEN FIRES HEAD COACH

The Chicago Blackhawks hired Dale Tallon as their new general manager yesterday, and he wasted no time firing coach Brian Sutter. Under Sutter, the Blackhawks were 91-118-37 in three seasons, and made the playoffs once, in 2001-02. Tallon, the club’s assistant GM since November 2003, takes over for interim GM Bob Pulford, who remains the Blackhawks’ senior vice president. Tallon said Trent Yawney, coach of the Blackhawks’ AHL team in Norfolk the past five seasons, is the top candidate to replace Sutter.

SOCCER

ARGENTINA RALLIES TO TIE GERMANY AT CONFEDERATIONS CUP

Argentina rallied twice from a goal down to draw 2-2 with host Germany in the highest-profile match so far in the two-week Confederations Cup soccer tournament.

With the draw, Germany finished first in Group A and will face the runner-up from Group B – either Japan, Brazil, or Mexico – in Saturday’s first semifinal. Argentina also reached the semis and will play the Group B champion on Sunday. Brazil faces Japan, and Mexico plays Greece in today’s final Group B games. In yesterday’s other Group A game, Tunisia defeated Australia 2-0. The championship game is next Wednesday in Frankfurt.

– Associated Press