(05-24) 22:18 PDT Anaheim --

The A's finally won a game Tuesday night, beating the Angels 6-1 to snap a six-game skid. The aftermath of the first victory in a week provided relief for manager Bob Geren amid public criticisms from his closer.

Ex-closer, that is. Geren demoted Brian Fuentes one day after Fuentes criticized Geren for his in-game managing and communication skills. Grant Balfour is the closer, at least until Andrew Bailey comes off the disabled list.

Fuentes had cited Geren's "unorthodox managing" and said he was handled "pretty poorly," thanks to "zero" communication. Former A's reliever Huston Street took it a step further Tuesday by calling Geren the "least favorite person I have ever encountered in sports."

Geren, who's in the final year of his contract, met with Fuentes in the manager's office at Angel Stadium on Tuesday, and Fuentes apologized for the public blasting. In the meeting, Geren told Fuentes he's no longer the closer, based on his recent struggles.

"It was positive," Fuentes said, "and we're moving on."

Geren added, "It's behind us. We're all going forward."

Though Fuentes apologized for his public rant, he didn't regret the message. If he had it to do over again, he said, "I would say it. Just not to you guys. It was the wrong outlet."

Fuentes stressed that he wasn't popping off because of his or the team's recent woes. In fact, he said he would have vented regardless, "to get it off my chest." It was more about a communication gap between him and Geren that carried onto the field and left Fuentes uncertain about his role.

Geren used him more in non-save opportunities than save opportunities. In his 11 save opportunities, Fuentes has a 2.92 ERA and has converted nine. In 12 non-save chances, Fuentes is 0-6 with an 8.00 ERA.

It wasn't the first time Geren was criticized by members of his team.

In September 2008, Street had to be separated from Geren by shortstop Bobby Crosby after getting pulled from a game in Detroit. Calling himself "selfish," Street later held a meeting to apologize to his teammates.

On Tuesday, Street, now with the Rockies, offered his harshest public criticism of Geren in a text to Chronicle reporter Susan Slusser:

"Bob was never good at communication, and I don't want to speak for anybody else, but it was a sentiment reflected in many conversations during the two years I spent in Oakland, and even recently when talking to guys after I left. For me personally, he was my least favorite person I have ever encountered in sports from age 6 to 27. I am very thankful to be in a place where I can trust my manager."

On that same 2008 trip, according to multiple sources, Mike Sweeney was furious with Geren for not allowing him to play more in a series in Kansas City. Sweeney thought it would be his final chance to play in K.C., where he spent most of his career. According to the sources, Sweeney had a blowup with Geren and was released shortly thereafter.

Geren's first season was 2007, a year after the A's reached the American League Championship Series under Ken Macha, who was fired by general manager Billy Beane over a "disconnect." As the reigning division champs fell from contention in August, several players expressed dissatisfaction with Geren. He was called "wishy-washy" by one player, "oblivious" by another.

After that season, three coaches were fired, including Bob Schaefer, who was quoted as saying, "I didn't want to come back anyway," and added the staff's experience wasn't always put to the best use. "I was happy they hired me, but I was happy they fired me."

Geren has been second-guessed for his work in National League-hosted interleague play, including a game in Wrigley Field in June in which he didn't double switch and was left with Bailey leading off the ninth. Bailey was forced to exit for a pinch-hitter, and the A's lost 3-2.

Last weekend's interleague series in San Francisco, a three-game Giants sweep, prompted more second-guessing. Fuentes questioned why the closer would be summoned in a game that's tied in extra innings on the road. It happened twice, and Fuentes took the loss both times and has lost each of his last four appearances, an A's record for a reliever.

In a Chronicle interview, Beane said he spoke with Geren over the phone but not Fuentes, though he didn't rule out a future chat with the pitcher. Although Beane said it wasn't appropriate for Fuentes to vent publicly, he said he understood the frustration.

"If you look at our club the last month and a half, our pitching has been fantastic," said Beane, adding Bailey's absence has stretched other relievers' roles. "We haven't scored a lot of runs, so it makes it challenging at the end of games for managing decisions or relievers coming in, and we expect perfection in an imperfect world."

Beane refused to rate Geren's performance, saying he doesn't make a practice of evaluating players or staff publicly. Regarding some fans' frustrations over Geren, Beane said, "It's a natural reaction for people who follow the team. All positions of leadership come with criticism. Bob knows that. I know that in my position. Ultimately, from our standpoint, the best thing is to look for a solution."

Brad Ziegler, the longest-standing member of the A's bullpen, said it's always better when relievers have specific roles but knows that's not always possible. "It's tough," Ziegler said. "Every time the phone rings, you never know who's getting up. That's really part of having a really deep bullpen."

Second baseman Mark Ellis said he has no communication issues with Geren. "He's always been fine with me," Ellis said. "Obviously, Brian had a problem with him. They talked. It's not an issue anymore. Today's a new day. I assume he knows what his role is now."

Former A's closer and Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley sided with management on the Fuentes issue, telling The Chronicle, "From the outside looking in, just pitch. When they tell you to pitch, pitch. You're not Mariano (Rivera). That's pretty much what it comes down to."

Eckersley said he never would have publicly challenged his Oakland manager, Tony La Russa, but noticed that Fuentes had his role changed without being informed.

"I don't think Tony would have done that," Eckersley said.

This article has been corrected since it appeared in print.

Staff writers Ron Kroichick and Susan Slusser contributed to this report.

Inside

Gwen Knapp: Going public was a viable option for Fuentes. B2

A's win: Six-game losing streak broken. B5