(Best E Casino) - The Toronto Blue Jays will have a new manager on the bench this evening when they start their three-game interleague set with the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park.

Toronto fired manager John Gibbons on Friday and elevated Cito Gaston to the helm for tonight's game.

The Blue Jays also fired coaches third base coach Marty Pevey, first base coach Ernie Whitt and hitting coach Gary Denbo.

Gaston becomes the first two-time manager of the Blue Jays, moving over from his position as club ambassador and special assistant to the president and CEO. Gaston managed the Blue Jays from 1989-1997 and led the team to four playoff appearances including back to back World Series championships in 1992 and 1993.

Other new names to the staff tonight will be first base coach Dwayne Murphy, third base coach Nick Leyva and hitting coach Gene Tenace.

The team's recent five-game losing streak may have been the final nail in Gibbons' coffin, as the team has slipped to last place in the American League East at 35-39, 10 1/2 games back of the Boston Red Sox.

Pittsburgh, meanwhile, lost three straight to the White Sox in Chicago to make it five losses in six games and dropped its record to 34-39.

On Thursday in Milwaukee, Dave Bush took a no-hitter into the eighth, and the Brewers later withstood a six-run ninth to complete a sweep of the Blue Jays, 8-7. Lyle Overbay tripled and homered while Joe Inglett added a grand slam in the ninth.

A.J. Burnett (6-7) continued his recent struggles, surrendering eight runs on eight hits and four walks through five frames for Toronto.

In Chicago, Jermaine Dye hit a grand slam and also added a solo home run to finish with six runs batted in as the White Sox beat the Pirates, 13-8. Freddy Sanchez and Nate McLouth each had two hits and three RBI for the Pirates. Jason Bay was 2-for-5 with an RBI in defeat.

Phil Dumatrait (3-4) was dealt the loss as he was touched for nine runs on 11 hits in five-plus frames on the hill.

Toronto turns tonight to ace Roy Halladay, who'd won five straight decisions before losing a 6-2 verdict to the Chicago Cubs on June 14.

He started the season at 3-5, but won five times in six starts between May 14 and June 8 to push the mark to 8-5, allowing two or fewer earned runs in four of the six outings.

Halladay won his lone career meeting with the Pirates, allowing eight hits and a run, with nine strikeouts, in eight innings.

Pittsburgh lefty Zach Duke is one of the few Pirates riding a hot streak.

He lost four of his first six decisions to begin the season, but has since gone unbeaten in three straight starts, including defeats of Houston and Arizona on June 4 and 9, respectively.

He got a no-decision his last time out, allowing nine hits and four runs against Baltimore in the Pirates' 8-7 loss on June 14.

Duke, who is 4-2 in seven starts at home in 2008, has never faced the Blue Jays.

Toronto swept a three-game set from the Pirates the last time these teams met back in 2003.