Red Sox fire Farrell after latest ALDS flop

BOSTON — John Farrell racked up a lot of wins and World Series title with the Red Sox. But past success wasn’t enough to save his job after consecutive early playoff exits.

Boston fired Farrell (below) on Wednesday after the team’s second straight loss in the AL Division Series.

The Red Sox announced the move less than 48 hours after they were eliminated from the World Series hunt with a 5-4 loss to the Astros. Farrell’s contract had been scheduled to run through the 2018 season.

Boston won a second straight AL East title this season for the first time in franchise history despite the retirement of slugger David Ortiz. The Red Sox also did it despite starting the season with $217 million pitcher David Price on the disabled list and watching as 2016 Cy Young Award winner Rick Porcello stumbled to an 11-17 record.

“I thought it was the appropriate time to make a change for the betterment of the organization,” president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said.

Farrell managed the team to its eighth World Series title in 2013, his first season in charge of the club. Farrell went 432-378 over five seasons with Boston. He began his coaching career with the Red Sox as a pitching coach from 2007-10. He began his major league managerial career with the Blue Jays and went 154-170 over two seasons.

“Despite an end to this season that we all wanted to be different, I am proud of this ballclub and the resiliency shown,” Farrell said in a statement released by the Red Sox. “I have enjoyed every moment of this job — its peaks and its valleys. There are few, if any, positions in life that create so much passion on a daily basis.”