Nick Martinez gave the Rays exactly what they needed Tuesday night in Sacramento: length, control and a complete game in a 12-4 win over the Athletics that pushed Tampa Bay’s streak to eight straight.
The Rays are now 73-? wins on the season?
No-73rd win of the season, and they’ve stretched their lead in the American League East to six games over the New York Yankees. On a night when the offense piled up six homers, Martinez barely had to break stride.
He worked all nine innings on 101 pitches, allowing four earned runs on eight hits and striking out five.
The veteran was sharp enough to keep the game from ever slipping out of Tampa Bay’s hands. Lawrence Butler did tag him for a solo homer in the fourth, but Martinez otherwise kept the Athletics from doing much damage. Oakland finished 1-for-3 with runners in scoring position, and Martinez closed out the second complete game of his lengthy MLB career.
It was the 12th win of the year for Martinez, who earned his first All-Star nod just last month and continues to look like a pitcher this Rays staff can trust in a big spot. If Tampa Bay ends up playing deep into October, this is the kind of outing that sticks in the memory.
Of course, Martinez had plenty of help. The Rays’ lineup came out swinging and never really stopped, launching six home runs in all. Taylor Walls went deep twice, and Junior Caminero added another blast to reach 35 homers on the season.
Caminero’s power surge has put him on pace for 47 home runs, a number that only strengthens the case that he belongs in the American League MVP conversation.
Tampa Bay has been rolling through what has become one of the best road trips in franchise history, and the chance to finish it off with another win is right there. The Rays and Athletics will meet again Wednesday in Sacramento, with Drew Rasmussen set to start for Tampa Bay against right-hander Jack Perkins. First pitch is scheduled for 4:05 PM Eastern.
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Taylor Walls Gave The Rays A Lift They Desperately Needed
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For a player batting .217 this season, the outburst carried extra weight. Walls came into the night with modest power numbers and 18 stolen bases, but his swings helped push the Rays to a 9-2 lead entering the seventh inning, exactly the kind of cushion they have been needing as they try to steady the offense around him. [Read more 🡒]