TAMPA, Fla. (Interstat) — Junior Caminero’s three-run home run in the first inning and a three-run seventh inning propelled the Tampa Bay Rays to a 6-1 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday night at George Steinbrenner Field.

The Rays, who improved to 46-33, received a strong start from right-hander Nick Martinez, who allowed one earned run on six hits over 5 2/3 innings while striking out three. Martinez improved to 7-2. Arizona fell to 41-40 as right-hander Zac Gallen took the loss, his record dropping to 3-7. Gallen allowed six runs on six hits over 6 1/3 innings, walking three and striking out two.

A crowd of 12,972 watched the game, which lasted 2 hours, 17 minutes.

The Diamondbacks took an early lead in the top of the first inning. Geraldo Perdomo opened the scoring with a solo home run to right-center field, his fifth of the season, after Ketel Marte had flied out. Corbin Carroll followed with a triple to center field that was deflected by right fielder Jonny DeLuca, but Arizona could not bring him home as Gabriel Moreno and Nolan Arenado each popped out.

The Rays answered immediately in the bottom of the first. Yandy Diaz drew a walk, and Jonathan Aranda was hit by a pitch, putting two runners on for Caminero. The third baseman crushed a 1-0 pitch from Gallen over the center-field wall for his 20th home run of the season, giving Tampa Bay a 3-1 lead. Caminero’s blast drove in Diaz and Aranda.

Neither team scored again until the seventh inning, when the Rays broke the game open. Cedric Mullins led off the bottom of the seventh with a solo home run to right-center field, his seventh of the year, extending the lead to 4-1. After Victor Mesa Jr. lined out and Taylor Walls flied out, Hunter Feduccia doubled to center field. Diaz then singled to right field, scoring Feduccia to make it 5-1. Aranda followed with a double to center field that brought home Diaz, pushing the lead to 6-1. The rally chased Gallen, who was replaced by left-hander Joe Mantiply, but Caminero flied out to end the inning.

Arizona, which outhit Tampa Bay 8-6, had opportunities but could not capitalize. In the fourth inning, Carroll singled and Moreno singled, putting runners at first and third with one out, but Arenado popped out and Max Kepler lined out. In the sixth, Moreno and Arenado singled again, but Ildemaro Vargas lined out to end the threat.

The Diamondbacks also had a runner on third in the first inning after Carroll’s triple, but failed to bring him home.

Martinez worked efficiently, allowing only one earned run and scattering six hits. He was aided by a defense that turned a double play in the eighth inning. The Rays bullpen combined for 3 1/3 scoreless innings. Kevin Kelly pitched the seventh, allowing one hit and striking out none. Cam Booser recorded the final two outs of the sixth inning, Garrett Cleavinger pitched a scoreless eighth inning and Kyle Crick closed out the ninth.

Caminero finished 1-for-3 with the home run and three RBIs. Diaz went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Feduccia was 1-for-3 with a double. Aranda doubled and drove in a run. Diaz also walked once.

For Arizona, Perdomo was 2-for-4 with the home run. Carroll went 2-for-4 with a triple and a single. Moreno had two singles. Arenado singled and walked. Tommy Troy singled.

The game featured a key moment in the bottom of the sixth inning when Gallen intentionally walked Caminero with two outs and a runner on second. The strategy worked temporarily as Richie Palacios popped out on the infield fly rule, but the Rays broke through in the seventh.

Arizona’s previous series was a three-game set at St. Louis in which the Diamondbacks won two of three, including a 9-4 victory Wednesday and a 4-3 win Tuesday before a 0-0 tie Thursday that was suspended. The Diamondbacks entered the game having lost four of their previous six.

Tampa Bay had won two of three against Kansas City entering Friday, including a 13-2 victory Thursday and a 5-3 win Wednesday after dropping the series opener. The Rays have now won four of their last five.

The teams continue the three-game series Saturday at George Steinbrenner Field. Arizona then returns home for a three-game set against San Francisco starting Monday. Tampa Bay travels to Kansas City for a three-game series beginning Tuesday.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Arizona 6, Tampa Bay 4, while Interstat’s ELO system gave the Rays a 53.60 percent probability of winning. Tampa Bay was installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of minus-1.5. The total of seven runs went under the over-under line of 8.