Trevor Story and Ceddanne Rafaela each homered to help the visiting Boston Red Sox complete a three-game sweep by beating the Washington Nationals 6-4 on Sunday.

Jordan Hicks allowed a run in the ninth but earned the save as the Red Sox took care of business in the first of two series against terrible teams. Up next is a three-game home set against the Rockies.

A massively disappointing first half to a season that was expected to feature significant on-field progress four years into a franchise rebuild has cost the two most prominent people in the Nationals organization their jobs.

Sunday was a grind for Garrett Crochet, but hours before he was named an All-Star, his latest start landed him among Red Sox legends as Boston completed a sweep of the Washington Nationals.

At spring training, he battled Mitchell Parker and DJ Herz for the final spot in the rotation as he adjusted to pitching in the United States. In Japan, Ogasawara was used to having more rest and throwing longer bullpen sessions between starts. In MLB, starters typically go every fifth day and manage their throwing programs with that in mind.

WASHINGTON — Instant reactions as the Red Sox (46-45) finish off their sweep of the lowly Nationals with a 6-4 win and climb back above .500 despite an inefficient Garrett Crochet not looking like himself in D.C.:

Yoshida strengthens the lineup at a time when Boston has been rolling, scoring 10 or more runs in six of its last 11 games.

Trevor Story homered and the Boston Red Sox beat Washington 6-4 on Sunday to complete a three-game sweep, with the Nationals firing manager Dave Martinez and general manager Mike Rizzo

The Red Sox scored 10 runs Saturday with Nate Eaton as their leadoff man. They'll run (basically) the same group back Sunday with another lefty on the mound for the Nationals.

Trevor Story and Ceddanne Rafaela each homered to help the visiting Boston Red Sox complete a three-game sweep by beating the Washington Nationals 6-4 on Sunday. Story hit a two-run home run that was part of Boston's four-run first inning, and Rafaela hit a solo home run in the ninth. Rafaela had three of Boston's 12 hits.