Associated Press
 |  Associated Press

Washington – Manager Dave Martinez and general manager Mike Rizzo were fired by the Washington Nationals on Sunday amid their sixth consecutive losing season since winning the 2019 World Series.

The move came after the Nationals were swept by the Boston Red Sox. They are 37-53, and the only other National League club with a worse record is the Colorado Rockies.

Owner Mark Lerner announced the change, saying senior VP and assistant GM Mike DeBartolo would take over on an interim basis.

“Our family is eternally grateful for their years of dedication to the organization, including their roles in bringing a World Series trophy to Washington,” Lerner said. “While we are appreciative of their past successes, the on-field performance has not been where we or our fans expect it to be. This is a pivotal time for our club, and we believe a fresh approach and new energy is the best course of action for our team moving forward.”

Cruz cuts down Crawford at 105.2 mph

Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Oneil Cruz made a 105.2 mph throw to nab Seattle’s J.P. Crawford at the plate on Sunday, the second-hardest thrown ball to produce an outfield assist since Statcast started tracking in 2015.

The fastest throw from the outfield that produced an out in Major League Baseball’s Statcast era was 105.5 mph by Aaron Hicks of the New York Yankees in 2016.

Cruz’s throw was the fastest of any kind by a Pirates outfielder. The one-hopper to the plate came as a surprise to Crawford, who did not slide on the play.

With one out in the first, the Mariners’ Jorge Polanco lined a single to left-center. Cruz ranged to his right, fielded it and threw on a line toward catcher Henry Davis. The ball bounced directly into Davis’ mitt and he made the tag.

The 6-foot-7 Cruz was already a Statcast hero of sorts. In May, he had the hardest-hit ball since Statcast started tracking, a home run at PNC Park that left the bat at 122.9 mph and splashed into the Allegheny River.

Wheeler one-hitter

Zack Wheeler threw a one-hitter for his first complete game since 2021 in the Philadelphia Phillies’ 3-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday.

Wheeler (9-2) – the National League’s pitcher of the month in June – allowed only a leadoff homer to Austin Hays in the fifth inning. The right-hander struck out 12 and didn’t walk a batter, throwing 108 pitches.

Since Wheeler returned from paternity leave June 9, he has allowed only three earned runs in 40 innings.

Wheeler has five career complete games, three in 2021. There have been 20 complete games in the majors this season.