TAMPA, Fla. (Interstat) — Nick Martinez delivered a masterful performance on the mound, and the Tampa Bay Rays capitalized on a decisive second inning to snap a two-game skid with a 6-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday evening at George Steinbrenner Field.

A crowd of 15,546 watched as Martinez, the veteran right-hander, dominated over eight strong innings, allowing just one run on five hits while striking out six and walking one. His effort stifled a Reds offense that had scored 18 runs in the first two games of the series and provided much-needed stability for a Rays club seeking to halt its recent slide.

The most important sequence of the game unfolded in the bottom of the second inning, transforming a pitchers’ duel into a comfortable Tampa Bay lead. Reds starter Brandon Williamson, who took the loss to fall to 2-2, began the frame with control issues, walking Ryan Vilade and Jonny DeLuca consecutively. Ben Williamson then sliced a single to center, scoring Vilade to tie the game and moving DeLuca to third.

The Rays took the lead on a sacrifice fly by Chandler Simpson, but a throwing error by Reds right fielder Will Benson allowed DeLuca to score and Simpson to reach base. After a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases, Yandy Díaz delivered the critical blow, a two-out single to center that scored Ben Williamson. The three-run outburst gave Tampa Bay a 3-0 lead and all the offense Martinez would ultimately require.

Tampa Bay extended its advantage in the third when top prospect Junior Caminero launched a solo home run, his sixth of the season, to right-center field off Williamson, making it 4-0.

Cincinnati, which managed only five hits total, broke through against Martinez in the fifth. Nathaniel Lowe singled and Spencer Steer followed with a double. A walk to Will Benson loaded the bases with no outs, threatening the Rays’ command. P.J. Higgins lifted a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Lowe, but Martinez expertly limited the damage. TJ Friedl then hit a grounder to first, resulting in a fielder’s choice out at home, and Matt McLain lined out sharply to right to end the threat with the score 4-1.

The Reds would not seriously threaten again. Martinez retired the final 11 batters he faced, and the Rays’ bullpen completed the shutout effort. Kevin Kelly worked a perfect ninth inning, sealing the win.

Tampa Bay added insurance runs in the fifth on an RBI single by Vilade and in the seventh on a groundout by Caminero. The Rays’ offense, which collected nine hits, was led by Díaz, who went 3-for-4 with an RBI, and Vilade, who was 2-for-2 with a walk, an RBI and two runs scored. The club, however, grounded into three double plays, stymieing potential rallies.

For Cincinnati, Steer’s double was the lone extra-base hit. The Reds’ bullpen, featuring scoreless outings from Brock Burke, Connor Phillips and Tony Santillan, kept the game within reach, but the lineup could not solve Martinez.

The victory improved Tampa Bay’s record to 13-11, while Cincinnati fell to 16-9. The result defied pregame projections from Interstat, which gave the Reds a slight probability edge and forecasted a high-scoring affair.

Martinez, now 1-1, rebounded emphatically from a rough outing in Pittsburgh five days prior. His lengthy outing provided respite for a Rays bullpen that had been taxed during the series and in recent games.

Cincinnati, which had won five of its last six, heads home to begin a series against the Detroit Tigers on Friday. Tampa Bay remains at home to host the Minnesota Twins, also on Friday, looking to build momentum after halting Cincinnati’s series win streak.