Thursday, 4 a.m.
For once, the kicking boot was on the other foot.
This time, it was the Rays who flogged the Cincinnati Reds.
After taking two losses in a row at the hands of the Reds, the Rays charged back with a 6-1 victory over Cincinnati Wednesday afternoon at Tropicana Field.
Led by the superb pitching of Nick Martinez and the bat of Yandy Diaz, again, the Rays cruised to their 13th win of the season.
Martinez went eight innings and allowed just five hits and one earned run. He struck out six. Martinez is 1-1, but the Rays have won four of his five starts.
It was welcome relief for the Rays. In their 13 wins this year, they've givein up 45 runs. In their 11 losses, they've given up 83,
Diaz had three hits, bringing his average bck up to .340. Ryan Vilade had two hits. Junior Caminero hit his sixth home run of the season.
The Rays scored three runs in third second inning and another in the third.
The Rays are off today, but play Minnesota on Friday at 7:10 p.m.