Marlins fire hitting coach after 'unacceptable' results

The Miami Marlins won their fifth game of the season in 20 tries Friday, but the celebration was short lived.

Following Miami's 3-2 win over the Washington Nationals, the Marlins announced the firing of hitting coach Mike Pagliarulo.

Marlins president of baseball operations Michael Hill said the change was made because of "unacceptable" hitting results.

"Our offensive approach, we're an easy team to pitch to," Hill said, according to Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald. "I didn't get the feel that we were making the necessary adjustments and battling and fighting the way that we know this team is capable of performing offensively. I felt like it was time for a new voice and subsequently a change needed to be made."

Miami's 51 runs scored are the fewest in the majors, while the team's batting average (.215), on-base percentage (.277), and slugging percentage (.326) are among the league's lowest.

"This wasn't a decision that happens emotionally," Hill added, according to The Athletic's Andre Fernandez. "You watch the quality of our at-bats and the way the games were going and you start those discussions before tonight. That's what's happened and once the decision was made, we weren't going to delay our decision."

Assistant hitting coach Jeff Livesey has been named the Marlins' interim hitting coach while Eric Duncan - the organization's minor-league hitting coordinator - has been promoted to the team's major-league staff.