Nick Martinez and 3 relievers pitch Rays to 3-0 win over Guardians

Abby DiSalvo, Tampa Bay Times on Jul 25, 2026

Published in Baseball

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TAMPA, Fla. — Saturday’s matchup against the Cleveland Guardians began on a high note when Yandy Diaz knocked a single into right field, becoming just the fourth player in Tampa Bay Rays history to reach 1,000 hits with the franchise.

But it was his next hit that changed the calculus of the game, setting into motion a two-run fifth inning and giving Tampa Bay a slim lead it would not relinquish in a 3-0 win.

Diaz launched a double deep into center field, waking up the crowd of 24,100 after four scoreless innings. Jonathan Aranda followed with a single. Junior Caminero brought Diaz home with a double, and a sacrifice fly from Cedric Mullins gave the Rays another run.

It was a brief resurgence from the top of the order after the first four hitters went a collective 4 for 18 with no RBIs in Friday’s series opener.

The bottom of the order combined forces to add a run in the sixth inning. Victor Mesa Jr. walked, then made it to third on a Richie Palacios single before Hunter Fedducia’s sacrifice bunt brought him across home plate.

But the Rays’ final few batters came up short in a few other scenarios.

Ben Williamson grounded out to shortstop with the bases loaded in the fourth. Two innings earlier, Chandler Simpson was doubled up on a popout to shallow rightfield two pitches after he narrowly avoided being picked off first base by escaping a comical rundown between first and second.

Nick Martinez had a strong start, allowing just four hits over six scoreless innings. He shone in the second, when he retired all three batters in order while picking up two of his five total strikeouts. Relievers Cole Sulser and Garrett Cleavinger added three more as they covered the seventh and eighth innings.

Bryan Baker closed out the game, but not without giving Guardians fans a shred of hope. Travis Bazzana hit a single — Cleveland’s only hit of the final three innings — and advanced to second on defensive indifference before the Rays sealed their fifth win in their past six games.

Grady Emerson, the Rays’ first-round draft pick, threw out the ceremonial first pitch after meeting manager Kevin Cash and several Rays for the first time at the afternoon’s batting practice.

The Rays will look to sweep the series on Sunday afternoon.

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