Rays veteran pitcher Nick Martinez proves to be an effective skid stopper for AL East leaders

BALTIMORE (AP) — Mired in an uncomfortable slump that uncomfortably shortened their lead in the AL East, the Tampa Bay Rays were desperate for a victory.

As he had done for much of the season, 36-year-old Nick Martinez delivered.

Martinez retired 18 of the 19 batters he faced Sunday, and the Rays beat the Baltimore Orioles 3-1 to avert a three-game sweep.

After losing three straight and seven of nine, Tampa Bay turned to the crafty right-hander to end the skid. Martinez and former Rays starter Shane Baz traded zeros until Tampa Bay broke it open with a three-run sixth.

“We needed a big start, obviously, and Nick provided that,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said.

It's been that way for much of the season. Signed as a free agent in February, Martinez (13-4) has been a steadying force for the Rays. Tampa Bay is 7-1 after a loss when Martinez starts, and few of those wins were bigger than this one.

“Hopefully, it creates some momentum for us going forward,” said Martinez, whose only mistake over six innings was yielding a third-inning double to Colton Cowser.

His fifth scoreless outing of the season came after he yielded six runs over 3 2/3 innings in a loss against Toronto on Aug. 18.

“There's no real correlation between starts,” Martinez insisted. “You have to have that mentality after some outings not to let it snowball. I was able to do that today, and hopefully get us going in the right direction.”

There was no margin for error in this one, because Baz was mowing down the Rays for five innings. Then, after Tampa Bay broke through in the top of the sixth, Martinez knew he had to ring up another scoreless inning to keep the lead intact.

“I was focusing on throwing up a zero right there after you see the team put together a good inning,” Martinez said. “I was able to do that.”

Martinez has won a career-high four straight road starts. Now the Rays head to Detroit to try to build back up a lead over New York that has shrunk from 6 1/2 games on Aug. 15 to just three games on Sunday night.

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Nick Martinez delivers against the Baltimore Orioles in the first inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)

Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Nick Martinez delivers against the Baltimore Orioles in the first inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)

Tampa Bay Rays' Junior Caminero (13) slides into home plate to score as Baltimore Orioles catcher Samuel Basallo, left, tags in the sixth inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)

Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Cam Booser throws against the Baltimore Orioles in the seventh inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)

BOSTON (AP) — Nick Sogard hit his second career homer, Jake Bennett struck out six in seven innings and the Boston Red Sox came back to finish a sweep of the San Francisco Giants with a 5-4 win on Sunday.

The Sox finished their homestand 5-1. They are 7-3 since a five-game skid that matched their season high.

After the Giants took an early 3-0 lead capped by Jonah Cox's solo homer in the second, Sogard blasted a 3-2 fastball from Matt Wilkinson (0-1) 415 feet over the Green Monster to cut into the deficit.

Ceddanne Rafaela drove in another in the third, and Connor Wong tied the game with an RBI double. Mickey Gasper gave the Red Sox the lead with a double of his own, and Rafaela added an insurance run with a single.

Bennett (8-6) allowed four runs (three earned) on seven hits and walked one.

The Giants made it a one-run game after Christian Koss hit a true Little League homer, with the Little League World Series ongoing in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

He reached safely on a throwing error by Andruw Monasterio that got past Willson Contreras, rounded second and saw a throw from Wilyer Abreu sail over third base and into a camera well, allowing him to score.

Tyson Guerrero threw a scoreless eighth, and Aroldis Chapman earned his 29th save.

Willy Adames and Victor Bericoto each left the game due to injuries. Adames departed due to a left elbow injury, and Bericoto with a right knee injury, the Giants said.

The Giants return home to host the Reds on Monday. RHP Chase Burns (14-2, 2.51 ERA) takes the hill for Cincinnati against Giants LHP Carson Whisenhunt (3-4, 7.03).

The Red Sox head to Miami for a three-game set with the Marlins. Boston LHP Ranger Suarez (5-3, 3.41 ERA) faces RHP Sandy Alcantara (13-8, 3.46) on Monday.

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

San Francisco Giants' Willy Adames, right, beats the throw to Boston Red Sox catcher Conner Wong, left, as he scores in the first inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Jim Davis)

The bat of Boston Red Sox's Willson Contreras, right, just misses San Francisco Giants catcher Andrew Knizner, left, in the third inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Jim Davis)

Boston Red Sox pitcher Jake Bennett throws in the first inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Jim Davis)

Boston Red Sox center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela makes a diving catch to rob San Francisco Giants' Andrew Knizner of a hit in the first inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Jim Davis)

Boston Red Sox runner Mickey Gasper, cente, high fives with teammate Wilyer Abreu, left, after he scored in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Sunday Aug 23, 2026 in Boston. (AP Photo/Jim Davis)