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, allowing 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. Martinez lowered his ERA to 1.70, the best in club history by a traditional starter through his first eight games with the franchise.
“It’s something I’ve worked toward,” he said. “It’s about having the right mindset, being aggressive and communicating with the catcher. [Catcher Nick Fortes] has done one heck of a job back there for me -- reading swings and trusting the defense behind me.”
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. According to MLB.com’s Sarah Langs, the pitch was just 1.15 feet off the ground. It was the second-lowest pitch hit for a home run of Caminero's career, following one he hit on April 5 that was just 1.04 feet off the ground.
“I was looking for a fastball, and he threw me a slider. It was just a reaction, like [Vladimir Guerrero Sr.],” Caminero said.
It’s fitting that Caminero hit the no-doubter on Mother’s Day. He dedicated the homer to his mother, Yeudy, and his wife, Francesca. Before the game, Caminero told his mother that he would homer for her. The Dominican Republic native plans to hit another home run on May 31, when his home country celebrates Mother’s Day.
“It was a great day, and I said, 'Happy Mother’s Day,'” Caminero said.
Tampa Bay then played small ball, scoring the second and third runs off Tolle two innings later. 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.
Closer Bryan Baker found himself in a high-leverage situation in the ninth. The first two hitters he faced -- Gasper and Marcelo Mayer -- reached base, but Baker had help to get out of the jam. After Baker struck out Ceddanne Rafaela, Caleb Durbin hit a slow roller to Caminero at third base. Caminero barehanded the ball and nipped Durbin by a step at first. Jarren Duran then flew out to left fielder Simpson to end the game.
“That play [by Caminero] was an excellent play,” manager Kevin Cash said. “We are playing with some confidence out there, but that was huge. You could feel the Red Sox getting some momentum.”
Tampa Bay (26-13) finds itself in first place in the American League East, one game ahead of the Yankees (26-15). Yes, it’s May 10, but don’t tell the Rays it’s early. They want to keep winning and stay on top throughout the regular season.
“I enjoy the sound of [being in first place],” Baker said. “We are not going to think about it too much. We are going to keep pressing. If you would have told me that going into the year, I would take it immediately.”
“They are going to keep counting us out," Martinez said. "We are going to play our style. We are going to play gritty and do whatever we can to get runs across. Let the media worry about what they worry about. … We are having a blast on and off the field. When we get together off the field, it shows on the field.”