PITTSBURGH -- When the Reds added a starting pitcher in Zack Littell before the Trade Deadline, Nick Martinez enthusiastically accepted a bullpen role. Then, a Nick Lodolo blister on Monday moved Martinez right back into the rotation.
Manager Terry Francona often calls Martinez a “Swiss Army knife,” and the versatile right-hander certainly provided the much-needed sharpness with seven well-pitched innings during the Reds' critical 2-1 win over the Pirates. As far as Francona was concerned, Martinez's versatility is priceless.
“I don’t know that you can probably put a stat on it, and I don’t care," Francona said. "Because it’s valuable just having him on the ballclub -- his attitude and the way he goes about his business. And it’s what you’re looking for.”
Martinez allowed one run and four hits with two walks and four strikeouts. He retired 12 of his final 14 batters. He last pitched in relief on Monday, working 2 1/3 innings following Lodolo's exit.
Saturday's win, which snapped a three-game losing streak, was big because a Mets loss at Milwaukee allowed the playoff-seeking Reds (61-57) to pick up a game and move to 2 1/2 games back for the final National League Wild Card spot.
“Just keeping my focus to winning ballgames," said Martinez, who is 10-9 with a 4.49 ERA in 26 games (23 starts). "You’ve got to have that mentality from here on out, really. Not a whole lot of room for error. We’ve got to do what we can to win each game.”
As he used a mix of six pitches effectively -- namely his sinker, cutter and changeup -- Martinez was able to pick up 10 outs with ground balls, including a double play in the seventh inning.
A huge boost that got Martinez into the later innings was a four-pitch bottom of the sixth.
“It was awesome," said Martinez, who had 82 pitches after six innings and 94 for the game. "After the fifth, they asked me if I was OK. I said, ‘Yeah, let’s go.’ After the sixth, it was, ‘Yeah, let’s keep going.’ I had a quick one and earned myself another inning.”
The lone Pittsburgh run against Martinez came in the third inning. Jared Triolo led off with a drive to right field, where Noelvi Marte took a poor route that let the ball get to the wall for a double. Triolo later scored from third base on a Tommy Pham sacrifice fly.
Runs have been hard to come by for Cincinnati, which scored only three during its losing streak -- and the Reds had to scrape again on Saturday.
In the top of the fourth inning, Spencer Steer hit a one-out single to left field against Braxton Ashcraft. With two outs and reliever Carmen Mlodzinski pitching, Marte hit an RBI double down the left-field line to make it a 1-1 game.
Marte burned Mlodzinski again in the seventh inning with a leadoff double to left field and moved to third base on Ke'Bryan Hayes' grounder to second base. Against lefty Ryan Borucki, TJ Friedl hit a drive to right field, where Bryan Reynolds made a nice diving catch. But Marte was able to score on the play to give Cincinnati the lead.
Pittsburgh had the winning run at the plate in the bottom of the ninth when Oneil Cruz walked against closer Emilio Pagán. With one out, Nick Gonzales scorched a 106 mph liner to Elly De La Cruz. The shortstop snared the ball and fired a one-hop throw at 90.8 mph to Steer at first base for a thrilling game-ending double play that gave Pagán his 25th save.
“That was some kind of play, all the way around," Francona said.
What happens next for Martinez's pitching assignments could be in flux. Cincinnati could get Hunter Greene (right groin strain) back from a two-plus-month absence in the next week. If Greene does return to the rotation, either Martinez or rookie Chase Burns could move into the bullpen.
Martinez's ability and willingness to pitch in any role is a rarity, even for a storied manager like Francona. For a clubhouse that has multiple younger players, it can be a big influence.
“God, I hope so," Francona said. "Everybody’s different and that’s OK. But I can’t imagine that if you’re out in that clubhouse, you’re not looking at that and thinking, ‘Damn, what a teammate.’"
“Every time I see him, I see how hard he’s worked," said the 23-year-old Marte, who was 3-for-4 with three doubles. "His work habit is what inspires you."