by Washington (AP) The Boston Red Sox defeated Washington 6-4 on Sunday, including a home run by Trevor Story. The Nationals fired general manager Mike Rizzo and manager Dave Martinez shortly after the game.
The Nationals are 37-53 and in their sixth straight losing season since winning the 2019 World Series.
In five innings, left-hander Garrett Crochet (9-4) gave up two runs while striking out seven. With 151 strikeouts, he leads the major leagues.
The Red Sox (46-45), who have won six of eight games and gone over.500 for the first time since they were 40-39 on June 22, had a three-hit game that included a solo homer from Ceddanne Rafaela in the ninth inning. Boston won its first road sweep since Miami on July 2-4, 2024.
Brady House, a rookie, recorded his first three-hit game for the Nationals (37-53), who have been swept for the fifth time and are now 16 games below.500 for the season. Washington left 15 men trapped on the base.
Against left-hander Shinnosuke Ogasawara, who made his major league debut, Boston scored four runs in the first inning.
Roman Anthony singled, Nate Eaton stole second, and he scored.Story then hammered his 14th home run over the visitor’s bullpen in left-center after Rob Refsnyder doubled for an RBI.
Paul DeJong scored on House’s RBI single and had a double in the third inning.
In order to record his first save since he was acquired in the trade that sent Rafael Devers to San Francisco, Jordan Hicks got pinch hitter CJ Abrams to fly out after allowing Daylen Lile to single for RBI with two outs in the ninth.
In two and a third innings, Ogasawara (0-1) gave up four runs, seven hits, and two strikeouts.
Rain caused a 17-minute delay in the second inning of the game.
Boston reliever Greg Weissert ended the seventh inning with a pop out to preserve a 5-3 lead after walking Luis Garc to push in a run.
Before the All-Star break, Crochet became the fourth pitcher in Red Sox history to reach 150 strikeouts, joining Chris Sale, Pedro Martinez, and Roger Clemens.
On Monday, Boston will kick off a three-game series against Colorado at home, starting RHP Richard Fitts (0-3, 4.50 ERA).
Monday is a day off in Washington. On Tuesday in St. Louis, Nationals RHP Jake Irvin (7-3, 4.71) will start the first game in a three-game series.
Sign up for Red Sox updates
During baseball season, receive breaking news and commentary straight to your inbox.
