Díaz's 2-HR day, Martinez's strong showing help Rays stop skid

ST. PETERSBURG -- The Rays’ first real losing streak of the season came to an emphatic end Friday night thanks to Yandy Díaz, Nick Martinez and their most explosive inning of the season.

Díaz hit a leadoff homer and a go-ahead two-run shot, Martinez continued his brilliant run with another quality start, and the Rays staged a seven-run seventh inning to beat the Angels, 8-5, halting a season-long four-game skid before a crowd of 18,706 at Tropicana Field.

The Rays improved to 35-19 on the year and boosted their MLB-best record at home to 20-5, with 16 wins in their last 17 games at the Trop.

Martinez put together a terrific outing, limiting the Angels to two runs while striking out five without a walk over seven efficient innings. But the Rays were down a run when he walked off the mound, because Angels starter Walbert Ureña shut down their lineup after Díaz got things started with the 23rd leadoff home run of his career.

But Ureña’s night ended after six innings, and the Rays capitalized in a big way with their 15th comeback victory of the season.

After Cedric Mullins worked a leadoff walk against right-hander Ryan Zeferjahn, Díaz unloaded on a two-strike sweeper over the middle of the plate and pulled it a Statcast-projected 400 feet to left field, home to four “Tarps Off” sections of shirt-waving fans.

Up came the red-hot Jonathan Aranda, who blasted a full-count sweeper a projected 410 feet out to right-center field to give the Rays back-to-back homers for the first time this season. It was the 10th home run of the season for both Díaz and Aranda.

But the inning wasn’t over, as the Rays returned to form with an extended rally. Junior Caminero smacked a single to center, and Chandler Simpson used his speed to force an error by first baseman Vaughn Grissom.

Oliver Dunn dropped a bunt single to score Caminero, then Richie Palacios dashed around the bases for a two-run triple down the right-field line. Finally, catcher Nick Fortes drove in Palacios with a sacrifice bunt to complete the Rays’ highest-scoring inning of the season.