Nationals fire Acta as skipper

WASHINGTON (AP) — So much for the plan to have Manny Acta’s patient optimism lead the Washington Nationals out of the doldrums. The abysmal won-loss record became too much to stomach, costing him his job at the All-Star break and adding another layer of instability to the worst team in baseball.

Acta was fired after the team reached the unofficial halfway mark of the season with a 26-61 record, on pace to clear the 100-loss mark for the second consecutive year.

Acting general manager Mike Rizzo — himself an interim placeholder — announced Acta’s dismissal Monday morning.

“We feel that the team has underachieved,” Rizzo said.

“We feel we have a better ballclub than we’ve shown on the field. ... We feel with a different voice and possibly a different feel in the clubhouse that we can have a more successful second half of the season.”

Acta was informed Sunday night after the team returned home following a 5-0 loss at Houston, Washington’s seventh in 10 games. Bench coach Jim Riggleman, who has a 522-652 record over nine seasons managing the Padres, Cubs and Mariners, was named the interim replacement — which means the Nationals now have both a GM and a manager with a temporary label next to their names.

“I’m very uncomfortable with that,” team president Stan Kasten said. “I’ve strived my whole career valuing stability and consistency, and I want to get to that here. We’re not there yet. I think we’re working toward that. Sometimes you encounter these unfortunate, unforeseen bumps in the road.”

Acta joins Colorado’s Clint Hurdle and Arizona’s Bob Melvin as major league managers who have been fired this season.

“It was a great learning experience, I have no regrets,” Acta said in a statement released by the team. “As I move forward, I wish the Nationals all the best. I was very fortunate to work with and meet a lot of wonderful people while here.”

Acta was 158-252 over 21‚Ñ2 seasons in his first managerial job. The team’s winning percentage dropped progressively from Year 1 until now, although his record had much to do with the talent — or lack thereof — assembled for him by the front office.

The Nationals opened this season without anything close to a reliable bullpen and fielded a lineup with numerous defensive liabilities.

For a while, the starting pitching rotation consisted of four rookies and one second-year player.