BALTIMORE — Desperate to rejuvenate a team drained by losing, the Baltimore Orioles fired manager Dave Trembley yesterday.

The Orioles (15-39) owned the worst record in the major leagues entering last night's game against Boston. They had lost eight straight and were coming off an 0-6 road trip in which they were outscored 34-8 in Toronto and at Yankee Stadium.

Third base coach Juan Samuel was appointed interim manager by president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail.

"What you're hoping to accomplish when you make a change like this is, you're hoping to ignite a spark, give everybody a clean slate," MacPhail said. "Sort of get out of that drumbeat of what's going to happen day-to-day."

After getting off to a 2-16 start — second-worst in franchise history — the Orioles appear to be staggering toward a 13th consecutive losing season.

"The results on the field were not what any of us would have hoped for, and I understand that the organization felt the time was right to move in a different direction," Trembley said in a statement. "While I am disappointed at the outcome, I feel it was a privilege to wear the Orioles uniform each day."

Trembley is the second major league manager to be fired this season. Trey Hillman was dismissed by Kansas City on May 13.

"Dave has been a great guy," third baseman Miguel Tejada said. "He respected everybody, gave everybody an opportunity to speak. I'm sorry for him because he's a great man in and outside the room."

The 58-year-old Trembley had a 187-283 record with the Orioles.

GIANTS

BURRELL JOINS TEAM AFTER STAY IN FRESNO

The San Francisco Giants have purchased Pat Burrell's contract from Triple-A Fresno, three weeks after the outfielder was released by Tampa Bay.

The 33-year-old Burrell hit .313 (5 for 16) with one homer and six RBIs in five Fresno games. He went hitless in two at-bats at Las Vegas on Thursday before joining the Giants in time for last night's game in Pittsburgh.

Burrell was in the second year of a $16 million, two-year contract with Tampa Bay when he was released May 15. He hit .202 with two homers and 13 RBIs in 24 games for the Rays. Last season, he proved to be a disappointment to the Rays, batting .221 with 14 homers and 64 RBIs in 412 at-bats.

INDIANS

KNEE SURGERY ENDS SIZEMORE'S SEASON

Cleveland Indians center fielder Grady Sizemore will miss the remainder of the season after microfracture surgery on his left knee.

Sizemore underwent a 90-minute operation yesterday in Vail, Colo. The team says the arthroscopic procedure performed by Dr. Richard Steadman included microfracture, which involves the drilling of small holes into the kneecap to stimulate the growth of cartilage.

The Indians said Sizemore, a three-time All-Star and Cleveland's most popular player, will need six to nine months to recover.