Rays Hit Dingers, Martinez Pitches Gem: Rays 12, Athletics 4

Sacramento, CA - On Tuesday, August 11, 2026, the Tampa Bay Rays faced off against the Sacramento Athletics at Sutter Health Park, aiming for their eighth consecutive win. Nick Martinez started for Tampa Bay, facing off against 25-year-old Mason Barnett, who started his eighth career major league game.

Junior Caminero unleashed his 35th homer of the year, tying him for the lead in the American League. He had driven in four runs before the break. The Rays' offense stayed alive with a sacrifice fly by Chandler Simpson in the third inning. Taylor Walls, making his 334th plate appearance, hit his first homer of the season in the bottom of the third.

However, the star of the night was Yandy Diaz, who not only homered but also stole a base on the very next pitch. Diaz has now homered in back-to-back games and has hit safely eight times in his last three outings. The Athletics answered with a two-run homer from Lawrence Butler in the fourth inning. Brady Basso relieved Nick Martinez and pitched scoreless innings in the fifth, but he faced a tough challenge from Taylor Walls, who hit another homer off the right side.

Diaz did not steal his thunder a second time, as Victor Mesa, Jr. added a home run in the seventh inning, marking his 10th of the season. His walk rate has improved to a 106 wRC+, and he has demonstrated excellent defensive skills with 6 Outs Above Average. Caminero and Wells both reached bases on balls in the game.

Carson Williams added to the Rays' offensive production by hitting his first home run of the season, driving the ball 420 feet to right center. Martinez gave up two more runs in the bottom of the ninth, making it the second complete game of his major league career. Martinez has now started four consecutive games without issuing a walk and has only allowed more than three runs in three starts this year. The Rays are now on a three-game sweep streak as they prepare for ace Drew Rasmussen to take the mound tomorrow.