NEW YORK -- Rangers pitcher Nick Martinez went into Saturday's start against the Yankees having held opponents to a .122 batting average with runners in scoring position in his first eight starts.
That was the second-lowest average by a qualifying pitcher in the American League. Martinez's ability to strand runners was significant early, even though the Rangers rolled to a 15-4 win at Yankee Stadium.
Despite the impressive margin of victory, the Rangers are also 2-17 this season when the opponents score first. Martinez kept the Yankees from doing that in the first inning Saturday despite some control issues at the outset.