Nationals name John McLaren as interim manager

Seattle Mariners manager John McLaren (R) argues after he was ejected by home plate umpire Mike DiMuro (16) for complaining about a strikeout call on Mariners batter Ichiro Suzuki in the second inning of their MLB American League baseball game with the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium in New York, May 23, 2008.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Washington Nationals named John McLaren as their interim manager, filling a void created by the unexpected resignation of Jim Riggleman, the team said on Friday.

The 59-year-old former Seattle Mariners manager, who was the Nationals' bench coach the last two seasons, takes the helm of the hottest Major League Baseball team a day after Riggleman quit because the club refused to discuss a contract extension.

McLaren, the fourth manager of the Nationals, managed the Mariners for parts of two seasons where he compiled a combined 68-88 record.

When he was named the Mariners manager midway through the 2007 season McLaren led the team to a 43-41 record down the stretch en route to a second-place finish in the American League west division.

He takes over a team that has won 11 of their last 12 games and trail the National League East division-leading Philadelphia Phillies by 8.5 games.

McLaren's first game as skipper will be on Friday when the Nationals visit the Chicago White Sox.

(Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto; Editing by Steve Keating)