BOSTON -- Signing Nick Martinez to a one-year deal worth $13 million has proven to be a bargain for the Rays. Before Sunday’s game against the Red Sox, the right-hander credited the Rays for the best start of his career.
Martinez is willing to talk all day about what Tampa Bay has done for him, with topics ranging from communication to pitch sequencing.
“They have a good understanding of what makes a player successful. They give you really good direction on what you need to do to achieve those things, whether it be in the weight room or throwing or mechanics,” he said. “Whatever it is, [pitching coach Kyle Snyder] is a great communicator. Coming into this year, the Rays were harping on getting ahead [of the hitters].”
The lessons Martinez is learning from the Rays paid off once again during a 4-1 victory over Boston at Fenway Park. He pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowed one run on seven hits without walking a batter. Martinez allowed a baserunner in every inning, but he avoided damage until the sixth, when he allowed an RBI single to Mickey Gasper.
The Rays gave Martinez the lead in the first inning when Junior Caminero swung at an 0-2 pitch from left-hander Payton Tolle and hit the ball over the Green Monster and onto Lansdowne Street.
Tampa Bay then played small ball, scoring the second and third runs off Tolle two innings later. Nick Fortes advanced to third on a single by Chandler Simpson and scored on an error by shortstop Trevor Story. Simpson then scored on a single by Ben Williamson.
The Rays added to their lead against reliever Zack Kelly in the sixth when Williamson scored on a sacrifice bunt by Cedric Mullins.