SEATTLE — Hitting coach Alan Cockrell has been fired by the Seattle Mariners as the team continues to slump with the worst offense in the American League.

The Mariners made the move Sunday morning before closing out a miserable homestand against the Los Angeles Angels. Seattle has dropped the first eight games and scored just 12 runs over that stretch.

Alonzo Powell has been promoted to take over Cockrell's duties. Powell was the hitting coach at Triple-A Tacoma for the past three seasons.

General manager Jack Zduriencik says in a statement that "you get to the point when change is inevitable." Seattle is hitting just .225 and ranks last in the AL in eight offensive categories.