Nick Martinez gave the Tampa Bay Rays everything a pitcher can — and still walked away with a loss.
The Fordham alum was masterful against the Atlanta Braves on Thursday, September 10, working 6.1 innings while surrendering just two hits and zero runs. He struck out three and kept the Braves completely off-balance, doing his part to protect an AL East contender's playoff positioning. The problem? Tampa Bay's offense couldn't match him, mustering only one run in a 3-1 defeat.
The loss stings not just in the standings but in the narrative. As Yahoo Sports noted in its game recap, the Rays have a genuine problem with left-handed pitching and situational hitting — specifically with the bases loaded — and until those issues are resolved, October could be a short stay for an otherwise dangerous Tampa Bay squad. Martinez's gem was the one bright spot in an otherwise frustrating afternoon.
His ERA now sits at 2.92, a figure that places him firmly among the better starters in the American League heading into the final weeks of the regular season. For a Fordham program that has quietly produced professional talent for decades, Martinez continues to be its highest-profile active MLB representative — and he's making that case loudly with performances like Thursday's.
The Bigger Picture for Tampa Bay
The Braves entered the series finale looking to avoid a sweep, loading their lineup with right-handed bats specifically to counter Martinez. Atlanta called up Brewer Hicklen and slotted in Lane Thomas against the Fordham righty, a clear sign of the respect opposing coaching staffs are showing him. Despite the strategic adjustments, Martinez neutralized the threat for the better part of seven innings.
The series context matters, too. Atlanta was playing with urgency ahead of a marquee matchup against the Philadelphia Phillies, meaning they came in motivated — and Martinez still held them to a whisper offensively.
Elsewhere in the Fordham Alumni Network
Greg Weissert continued to see regular action out of the Boston Red Sox bullpen. The right-hander logged two appearances during the week — one inning with two strikeouts against the Angels on September 8, and two-thirds of an inning against the Royals on September 11. His ERA sits at 3.60, and while Boston is playing out the string, Weissert is building a late-season case for a roster spot heading into 2025.
No significant activity was recorded for Daniel Bucciero (Athletics) or John Stankiewicz (Twins) during the period.
For Fordham fans tracking alumni across the sport, this was a week defined by Martinez. He's pitching like a number-two starter on a playoff team, doing it with efficiency and poise, and doing it on the Ram's behalf whether or not the box score reflects the effort. The Rays need their offense to wake up — but their Fordham arm? He's already awake.
AI-generated summary
