MIAMI -- Ranked last in MLB in runs scored and near the bottom of the league in several significant offensive categories, the Marlins on Friday night announced that hitting coach Mike Pagliarulo has been relieved of his duties.

The decision came after the Marlins snapped a four-game slide by beating the Nationals, 3-2, at Marlins Park.

Jeff Livesey is being promoted to interim hitting coach, after taking over this season as the assistant hitting coach. Minor League hitting coordinator Eric Duncan is taking Livesey’s place as assistant hitting coach.

“It’s the unfortunate part of this job,” Marlins president of baseball operations Michael Hill said Friday. “It’s a results-oriented job. Offensively, we haven’t been getting it done. Just felt like it was time for change, and we made the change postgame tonight.”

The Marlins have 51 runs in 20 games, which is the fewest in the Majors. They also are 27th in on-base percentage (.277) and 29th in slugging percentage (.326).

Miami has been shut out in five games and held to one run in four others. In the midst of a building process, the Marlins have a youthful lineup that lacks prototypical power hitters. The club has 17 home runs, ranked 25th in the Majors.

“We just felt like a change was necessary,” Hill said. “I want to take the opportunity to thank Pags. He’s a tireless worker and has done a lot for the organization in two-plus years.”

Pagliarulo was in his third season as Miami’s hitting coach. During his playing days, he was once a teammate of Marlins manager Don Mattingly. Livesey, in his first season with the Marlins, spent the past two years as assistant hitting coach with the Pirates. Duncan is in his first year with the organization. Both have previous ties with the Yankees, important as Derek Jeter is Miami's CEO.

“With the makeup of the club, we feel like we can do better,” Hill said. “When you look at how we performed the first 20 games, we’re an easy team to pitch to. We didn’t get the feeling we were making the necessary adjustments and battling and fighting the way that we know that this team is capable of performing offensively.”