OAKLAND, Calif. — The Athletics, last in the AL West, fired manager Bob Geren yesterday in the midst of a nine-game losing streak — and amid player unrest.

Former Arizona manager Bob Melvin took over for the rest of the season as interim manager — starting last night, when the A’s lost their 10th straight, 9-4 in Chicago.

Geren had come under criticism from his bullpen in recent weeks for a lack of communication.

Reliever Brian Fuentes was asked how he thought Geren has handled him, and Fuentes replied, “pretty poorly.”

The 49-year-old Geren — a catcher with the Yankees from 1988-1991 — posted a 334-376 record, including a 27-36 mark this season.