Dateline: 318 Kilometers from the Gulf of Mexico
As fighter jets from Luke Airforce Base buzzed above Surprise, Arizona, Nick Martinez returned to the mound.
The Texas Rangers scored three in the first and one in the fourth and held on for a 4-3 win.
Martinez hasn’t pitched in a Cactus League game since March 1 against San Diego. He was scheduled to start a game on Friday March 7 but it was rained out. Martinez got some work at the Reds complex instead.
His return revealed a little rust in the first inning. He kept falling behind Corey Seagar and threw the ball into left field. Joc Pederson connected on an opposite field, three-run home run.
“I got caught nibbling in that first inning,” Martinez said. “I got back to attacking the zone and getting early contact and some swings and misses. I got my work in throwing in the cage to some minor leaguers. I got my work in that way. It felt good to get back out there. Maybe I knocked some rust off in that first inning. I wasn’t nervous or anything. I just didn’t attack the zone.”
Martinez retired nine of the next 10 batters before Adolis Garcia doubled in the bottom of the fourth.
Garcia scored on Johah Heins sacrifice fly to left.
Martinez pitched four innings, allowed four runs, three earned on four hits and one walk. He struck out three.
“We had the double play ball, where we didn’t get an out,” Francona said. “I know he (Pederson) hit it well but the wind was blowing that way. Then he settled in and really pitched well. That was good to see.”
Alexis Diaz made his second appearance with a rocky but scoreless inning. He allowed a hit and a walk in his inning.
“It was good that he worked out of trouble,” Francona said. “Again, you can tell that he hasn’t pitched a lot. There is some good and it’s a work in progress which we knew there would be.”
Scott Barlow, Tony Santillan and Albert Abreu pitched scoreless innings.
The Reds strung together three hits after Jacob Hurtubise drew a leadoff walk to start the third inning. TJ Friedl, who singled in the first inning forced Hurtubise at second base. Matt McLain singled. Elly De La Cruz hit a rocket off the shins of second baseman, Sam Haggerty. Jeimer Candelario cleared the bases with a three-run double.
TJ Friedl had two hits. He is at .379 on March 12.
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