Rays end skid, beat Orioles 3-1

The Tampa Bay Rays relied on Nick Martinez to halt a slump, as the veteran right-hander dominated the Orioles with six scoreless innings and just one hit allowed in a 3-1 win that avoided a series sweep. Martinez (13-4) has been a stabilizing force, improving to 7-1 in games the Rays lose after a Martinez start, and he rolled past a lineup led by former teammate Shane Baz before Tampa Bay broke through with a three-run sixth. The Rays, who had slipped in the AL East standings, narrowed their lead over New York to three games with the victory, signaling momentum as they head to Detroit. Martinez’s previous rough outing, a six-run performance against Toronto, was followed by this bounce-back effort in which he struck out four and walked none. Chandler Simpson contributed two hits, including a run-scoring single in the sixth, while Colton Cowser provided Baltimore’s only extra-base hit with a third-inning double. The win continued Martinez’s strong season, lowering his ERA to 2.93 through 25 starts and keeping Tampa Bay on a projected path to contend in the division.