Struggling Blue Jays fire hitting coach Barnett

Toronto — The slumping Toronto Blue Jays fired hitting coach Mike Barnett on Monday and replaced him with first-base coach Mickey Brantley.

The Blue Jays are 9-11 after losing seven of eight. They were swept last weekend in Baltimore and outscored 24-7.

Toronto is batting .270, seventh in the AL. The Blue Jays’ 95 runs ranked sixth in the league.

The Blue Jays scored only 719 runs last year, next-to-last in the AL. They hit .260, which ranked 12th.

“This isn’t a knee-jerk reaction, it’s something we’ve been watching closely for the last year. We’re starting to get into the same habits we were in last year,” general manager J.P. Ricciardi said during a conference call.

Garciaparra surgery set

Chicago — Chicago Cubs shortstop Nomar Garciaparra plans to have a surgery on his injured groin Wednesday in Philadelphia and hopes to play again this season. The procedure does not involve reattaching a ruptured tendon. It will involve cleaning up other tissue around the groin.

Brewers pitcher Sheets might miss second start

St. Louis — Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Ben Sheets could miss a second turn in the rotation after being scratched for Monday’s start because of an inner-ear infection.

Sheets, who spent two nights in a hospital, was with the team as it was scheduled to begin a three-game series against the Cardinals. Wes Obermueller would have got his first start of the year as Sheets’ replacement, but the game was postponed to Thursday because of rain.

Manager Ned Yost said Sheets was feeling better, but could be out six to 12 days with the ailment, which has caused dizziness and nausea.

“They’ve got a big name for it, but it’s just an inner-ear infection that makes him a bit dizzy,” Yost said. “He’s on medication that should play its way through in the next week or so.”

RFK mound to be rebuilt while Nats on road

Washington — The Washington Nationals will start from scratch with the troublesome pitcher’s mound at RFK Stadium, rebuilding it next week while the team is on the road. The work will be done Tuesday during Washington’s series against the Dodgers in Los Angeles, vice president of ballpark operations Andy Dunn said Monday.

“We are going to come in here and completely redo the mound with a different kind of clay,” Dunn said. “We’re going to strip it down and build it back again.”

Nationals manager Frank Robinson and some of his pitchers have complained about the mound. Grounds crew workers have been called out between innings to work on it.

“It was terrible. It’s one of the worst mounds I’ve ever pitched on,” said Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Javier Vazquez, who started against Washington in the April 14 home opener.

Former Tigers pitcher Wilson dead at 70

Detroit — Former major-league pitcher Earl Wilson has died at the age of 70, the Detroit Tigers said Monday.

Wilson died of a heart attack Saturday in suburban Detroit, said Jim Martin, executive director of the Baseball Assistance Team charity, for which Wilson was a volunteer board member since 1988. He served as president from 2000-2004.

Wilson pitched for three teams in an 11-season career, finishing 121-109 in 338 games. The right-hander broke in with Boston in 1959 and saw limited action that season and in 1960. He reached the majors for good in 1962 and won at least 10 games for the next eight seasons.

Mets cut pitcher

New York — The New York Mets designated left-handed relief pitcher Mike Matthews for assignment Monday night and recalled lefty Royce Ring from Triple-A Norfolk. Matthews was signed as a minor-league free agent in January and made the team in spring training.