Nick Martinez allows 1 hit in 6 innings as Rays avert sweep with 3-1 win over Orioles

The Tampa Bay Rays secured a crucial 3-1 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday, effectively avoiding a potential three-game sweep. Pitched immaculately by Nick Martinez, the Rays held the Orioles to just one hit across six innings. Junior Caminero and Chandler Simpson added to the Rays' strong defensive performance with RBI singles in the pivotal sixth inning.

The Orioles struggled mightily, managing only three hits and failing to issue a walk in their 122th consecutive contest without such an outcome. Martinez's stellar performance was supported by solid work from relievers Cam Booser, Kevin Kelly, and Bryan Baker, who contributed to the Rays' 37th save. Baltimore's pitching duo, Nick Martinez and Shane Baz, battled to a scoreless tie until the sixth inning when the Rays took a 3-0 lead.

Despite Caminero's key RBI single and a wild pitch by Baz leading to a run, the Orioles' hard-luck right-hander faced a disappointing outing, ending his 12-start streak with 15 or more runs of support. This decisive win lifts the Rays to the top of the AL East, while Baltimore's loss dealt a significant blow to their efforts to climb in the tight wild-card chase.