Cardinals look for spark after Matheny’s firing

ST. LOUIS – As the St. Louis Cardinals took stock of their situation a day after the firing of manager Mike Matheny, some players said they bear some responsibility for Matheny’s sudden dismissal.

Matheny was fired Saturday night after an 8-2 loss to the last-place Cincinnati Reds. The Cardinals entered Sunday’s game one game over .500 and 7½ games behind the NL Central-leading Chicago Cubs and are in danger of missing the playoffs for a third straight season for the first time since 1999.

“We all feel bad for Mike and ultimately it comes down on us,” veteran infielder Jedd Gyorko said Sunday. “We’re the guys that go out there and play and perform. I feel like we haven’t done that good enough.”

Bench coach Mike Shildt is serving as interim manager.

The Cardinals’ recent mediocrity simply isn’t something the franchise is used to. Owner William DeWitt Jr. said a change was necessary to put the team in position for another playoff run.

“It’s not like we were 20 games under .500 and desperate,” DeWitt said. “We haven’t played to our capabilities. It just didn’t seem to be happening. It was a logical time to make a change.”

The 47-year-old Matheny was a Gold Glove-winning catcher for St. Louis from 2000-04. He compiled a 591-474 record in his six-plus seasons, reaching the postseason in each of his first four years while compiling a 375-273 mark.

Mets prospect Alonso homers, U.S. beats World in Futures Game: New York Mets prospect Peter Alonso hit a two-run homer as the United States beat the World 10-6 in a longball-filled All-Star Futures Game on Sunday.

The Los Angeles Dodgers got some good and bad in the Futures Game with catcher Keibert Ruiz injuring his right hand and outfielder Yusniel Diaz hitting two home runs. Ruiz took a foul tip off his right hand and left the game.

Cincinnati Reds prospect Taylor Trammell, who had a home run and a triple, was chosen as the MVP.

Machado removal from Orioles game fuels trade rumors: Shortstop Manny Machado was removed from Baltimore’s game against Texas in the fifth inning, setting off speculation the All-Star had been traded. But Machado was later seen in the dugout, wearing a sweatshirt and joking with teammates.