Jack Martinez spun a no-hitter through 6.2 innings before an infield single ended the run, though he picked up the final out of the frame to complete a season-best 7.0 innings of work to pace the Sun Devils. Martinez struck out 10 – his second consecutive game doing so – as part of a 13-strikeout night for the Sun Devil pitchers.
The pitcher’s duel finally broke ASU’s way in the bottom of the sixth inning when Brandon Comptonbroke up the scoreless tie with a two-RBI single as part of a three-run inning that would be all the offense the Sun Devils would need.
The Sun Devils will look to complete the series sweep at Phoenix Municipal tomorrow afternoon, scheduled for a 1 p.m. AZT first pitch.
TURNING POINT
After starting off the game strong, Jack Martinez ran into some trouble in the top of the third. He issued a lead off walk, but got the next batter to fly out to right field. The runner on first stole second, putting a runner into scoring position for the Bulldogs. Martinez gave up another walk, but settled in to strike out the next batter for the second out. He then got the final batter to ground out to second, ending the inning without any damage and preserving the no-hitter.
BIG MOMENT
With both sides struggling to get the bats going, ASU had its biggest opportunity of the night with the bases loaded in the sixth inning as the heart of the order loomed. Brandon Compton stepped to the plate and clutched up with a massive RBI single to give the Sun Devils their first two runs of the night. A Nu’u Contrades RBI groundout pushed across the third run for the Maroon and Gold as those three sixth inning runs were the difference in this one.
FINAL STRAW
Sophomore Derek Schaefer was called upon in another high leverage situation to slam the door for his team in the ninth. After inheriting runners on second and third, Schaefer toed the rubber and delivered the final two outs of the game in as many batters to put the nail in the coffin and lock down the Sun Devil victory.
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Martinez picked up the baton right where Ben Jacobs left it last night, throwing 7 innings of one-hit ball. From the start, Martinez was in control, retiring the side in back-to-back innings. After working through traffic in the third, he pitched three more innings facing the minimum, carrying a no-hitter into the seventh inning. After getting two quick strikeouts, bringing his total for the game to 10, a bloop single to third ended the no-hitter. However, Martinez remained on the mound, getting the final batter he faced to ground out to second, ending his night to a standing ovation from the crowd.
Martinez recorded 10 strikeouts in the outing. It was the second time in his career and this season recording 10+. He’s the first Sun Devil to record back-to-back outings of 10+ strikeouts since Alec Marsh (10 in each), May 10, 2019 at Nebraska and May 17, 2019 at Cal.
Martinez’s 35 strikeouts through four games are the most for a Sun Devil since Jon Switzer’s 41 in 2001.
Martinez’s 7.0 IP was the second longest start of his career. His longest start came during his time at Trinity (7.2 IP, May 7, 2022.)
He is the first Sun Devil to allow one hit or less over 7.0 IP since Kai Murphy (starting debut), May 9, 2021 at Cal (W, 7-2)
After giving up 7 first inning runs over the first five games of the season (and at least one run in each), the Sun Devils have flipped that trend and now have posted 10 consecutive games without allowing a first inning run. Three of which, including tonight, have been started by Jack Martinez.
INNING BY INNING
First Inning
Jack Martinez worked a 1-2-3 inning while picking up his first two punchouts to start the night.
The Sun Devils went down in order making for a quick first inning all around.
Second Inning
Martinez struck out the side in the top of the second inning, increasing his game total to five.
ASU had another unproductive inning, as a groundout and two pop outs ended the frame.
Third Inning
Martinez issued a few walks that gave Gonzaga some traffic on the basepaths for the first time. The right hander was able to work through it and keep a zero on the board.
Isaiah Jackson led the inning off with an opposite field double for the first hit from either side. Jonathan Hernandez then walked, where Jackson later advanced to third on a flyout to put runners on the corners. Hernandez took second on a steal in which Jackson attempted to advance home on the throw down. He was gunned down at the plate as the inning concluded shortly after.
Fourth Inning
After a long bottom of the third, Martinez returned to the mound for his fourth inning of work, pitching a clean inning complete with two flyouts and a groundout.
Gonzaga’s starter continued to carve up the ASU lineup, delivering three strikeouts for a scoreless bottom of the fourth.
Fifth Inning
Martinez faced the minimum as picked up his seventh strikeout doing so. The inning ended with an assist from Kien Vu as he made a spectacular grab to retire the side.
Nu’u Contrades reached via error but was called out on a steal attempt due to batter’s interference. The inning closed deadlocked at zero.
Sixth Inning
Martinez continued his dominance on the mound, pitching another scoreless inning, and picking up his eighth strikeout.
The Devils finally got things going in the sixth, loading the bases with one out. Brandon Compton opened up the scoring, singling into center field to drive in two runs and give ASU a 2-0 lead. Jacob Tobias walked, loading the bases and chasing the Bulldogs starter from the game. Nu’u Contrades grounded out, allowing another run to score, before Josiah Cromwick flew out to right to end the inning.
Seventh Inning
In his final inning of work, Martinez returned to the mound, striking out the first two batters. He then gave up a single on a tough grounder to third. Contrades made a great play with a strong throw across the diamond, but the runner was called safe for Gonzaga’s first hit of the game. Bloomquist headed out to the mound, but after a lengthy discussion, Martinez stayed out for one more batter. Having already surpassed the 100-pitch mark, Martinez got the final batter to ground out to second base for the third out.
The Sun Devils got some traffic going on the basepaths in the bottom of the seventh, but were ultimately unable to cash in, as Compton struck out with the bases loaded to end the inning.
Eighth Inning
Cole Carlon was the first man up for the Sun Devils. Carlon picked up right where Martinez left off, facing the minimum with a pair of strikeouts to go with it.
Nu’u Contrades kept his on base streak alive with a base knock, but his team had nothing to show for it as the eighth concluded with the Sun Devils ahead 3-0.
Ninth Inning
Carlon returned to the mound to pitch the ninth, issuing a leadoff walk. The next batter singled, but Carlon was able to strike the next batter out. Another walk followed, and Derek Schaefer was called in from the bullpen. He got an easy ground ball that was misplayed by Kyle Walker at second, allowing Gonzaga to score their first run of the game. Schaefer then settled in, delivering a huge strikeout to close out the game and seal the win for the Devils.
QUOTABLES
Head Coach Willie Bloomquist
On Jack Martinez’s outing
“Pretty impressive. He kept them very off balance and was mixing his pitches very well. He had them rolling a little bit, threw the ball outstanding, gave up the one infield hit, but he was pretty electric tonight.”
On the length of Martinez’s outing
“I think he got a lot of swing miss, of course, and then he had some weak contact when we needed a quick inning. I think it was the 5th or 6th where he had a very quick sub-10 pitch inning, which really helped get him an extra inning for us. Get him out there in the 7th and I knew going out there it was going to be a fight to get the ball from him and I didn’t have intentions of taking the ball from him at that point in time. I wanted to see how he was doing because we hadn’t gone up much over 100 pitches with him yet and wanted to see how he was feeling and then make the call when I was out there and see how it went. But, I had enough conversation with him to know he wanted that next hitter, so it’s his game, let him let him have it.”
On Brandon Compton’s timely RBI single
“It was great. The at-bat before he took three straight heaters and I was kind of scratching my head going, ‘what in God’s name are we doing?’ Him taking three heaters for strikes, that’s just not him. A, it’s not what we preach, and B, that’s not like him. We had a moment there before and I just told him to get the ball up in the zone and let it rip, even if he throws a slider or whatever, as long as it’s up in the zone, let it go. So I don’t know if that pitch looked like it maybe tailed in on him a little bit and he was just so strong he was able to get it over the second baseman’s head, but coming up in the big situation, that’s that’s what he does. So that’s what we needed at that time, and thank God he did or we might still be playing.”
Press Release courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics – Jeremy Hawkes
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