PHOENIX -- Diamondbacks right-hander Justin Martinez has been outstanding since coming off the injured list midway through last month, but Friday night he was something else -- he was perfect.
Well, immaculate to be precise.
Martinez tossed the fourth "immaculate inning" in the big leagues this season when he struck out all three Rangers hitters he faced in the sixth inning. It was the second by a Diamondback, with Michael Soroka also tossing one on March 30.
An immaculate inning is when a pitcher strikes out all three batters in an inning on nine pitches.
Martinez opened the frame by striking out Wyatt Langford and then followed it up by fanning Evan Carter, with the final pitch a swing and a miss on a 102.5 mph fastball.
Jake Burger then swung and missed at three straight pitches, the second of which registered 102.6 mph.
Martinez underwent his second Tommy John surgery last year and missed the first four-plus months of this season while recovering. In 7 2/3 innings since returning, he has not allowed an earned run.
It was the fifth immaculate inning in Diamondbacks history.