MAZZILLI TAKES THE BLAME FOR O'S FALL.

Byline: Gabe Lacques Staff Writer

ANAHEIM - The undistinguished two-year managerial career of Lee Mazzilli came to an end here Thursday, when the embattled Baltimore Orioles fired their manager and replaced him on an interim basis with bench coach Sam Perlozzo.

Mazzilli's status was in jeopardy in 2004, when he lost control of the clubhouse late in the year, but he survived to see a second season that saw the Orioles jump out to a 42-28 start and build a 4 1/2-game lead in the American League East.

Injuries to catcher Javy Lopez and pitcher Erik Bedard helped contribute to a slide that bottomed out here. The Orioles entered Thursday's game at Angel Stadium on an eight-game losing streak and had lost 16 of 18 to fall 10 1/2 games behind Boston.

``Someone has to be held accountable. And I feel like I have to be held accountable,'' Mazzilli said in a telephone interview with the Washington Post. ``You wish you could see it through and get it done. Unfortunately we couldn't get it done. I'll miss the people. The city really made me feel welcome. It's part of the job.

``It all stops here with me. We were in first place for 62 games and playing well and for whatever reason didn't play as well as should have.''

Mazzilli's firing was just the latest dark cloud for a franchise still reeling from Monday's 10-game suspension of first baseman Rafael Palmeiro for violating baseball's drug policy. The Orioles canceled a pregame ceremony scheduled for Aug. 14 at Camden Yards to commemorate Rafael Palmeiro's 3,000th hit at the slugger's request, the team said.

The only certainty is that Perlozzo, who was narrowly edged out by Mazzilli for the managerial job in 2003, will finish out the season.

``It's a bittersweet day for me,'' Perlozzo said. ``We're all a part of him not being here. It's not all his fault, but that's the game.''

Gabe Lacques, [phone]

gabe.lacques(at)sgvn.com

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