Streaks come to an end for Martinez, Rangers
Right-hander battles through six-run second inning
ARLINGTON -- Pitcher Nick Martinez's unique streak is over, and so is the Rangers' winning streak.
Martinez allowed seven runs in 3 1/3 innings in Wednesday night's 9-2 loss to the White Sox, snapping the Rangers' four-game winning streak. Martinez entered the game having allowed three or fewer runs in his last 16 starts. That was the longest such streak in club history and longest active one in the American League.
That came to an end when the White Sox scored six runs off him in the second inning. Martinez ended up with his shortest outing of the season and the shortest since June 26 of last season, when he lasted 2 1/3 innings against the Tigers.
"I didn't make my pitches, and they hit my mistakes," Martinez said. "They were all over my offspeed stuff."
Martinez has lost his last two starts and is 2-2 with a 4.57 ERA in seven starts since the beginning of May. He was 2-0 with a 0.35 ERA in four starts in April.
"I don't think Nick found the range with his breaking ball," Rangers manager Jeff Banister said. "There were some pitches inside that tonight weren't there that he got before. He was able to stick the ball on the outside part of the plate. Nick is effective when he sticks the ball inside. It didn't seem like that section of the plate was in play for him."
Martinez also entered the game with seven hit batters, tied with Minnesota's Mike Pelfrey for the most in the American League. Martinez went ahead when he hit Avisail Garcia leading off the second, and that started the White Sox rally. Singles by Alexei Ramirez and Gordon Beckham loaded the bases, and Martinez struck out Tyler Flowers for the first out.
That brought up Carlos Sanchez, Chicago's No. 9 hitter, who was hitting .175 coming into the game. But Martinez fell behind 3-1 in the count, then had to come in with a fastball that Sanchez lined to left-center for a two-run single.
"Just a couple of close ones that got away to that one batter," Martinez said. "I just didn't make my pitches."
Adam Eaton followed with a two-run double. Martinez struck out Melky Cabrera, but Jose Abreu hit a two-run home run to give the White Sox a 6-0 lead. Martinez didn't get out of the inning until he threw 41 pitches.