D-backs’ Justin Martinez Records Immaculate Inning vs. Rangers

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D-backs’ Justin Martinez Records Immaculate Inning vs. Rangers

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Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Justin Martinez recorded an immaculate inning during the sixth frame against the Texas Rangers at Chase Field. The young right hander struck out Wyatt Langford, Evan Carter, and Jake Burger consecutively on nine pitches. Every pitch in the sequence resulted in a strike, featuring five whiffs, one foul ball, and three called strikes. Martinez reached a peak fastball velocity of 102.6 miles per hour during the dominant performance. This achievement marked the fifth immaculate inning in the history of the Diamondbacks franchise and the second during the current Major League Baseball season. Michael Soroka previously secured the first franchise immaculate inning earlier this year on March thirty. Martinez missed significant playing time over past two seasons recovering from major elbow surgery. Following his return to the active roster, the elite reliever has maintained an exceptional performance level without surrendering any earned runs throughout his bullpen appearances.

Published 2026-09-12 05:14:01 UTC · Published by JQJO

Prepared by Neha R. · AI assisted

More context

Timeline

On March 30, 2026: Soroka pitched first team immaculate inning.
On July 30, 2001: Justin Martinez was born in Bonao.
On July 7, 2023: Martinez made his major league debut.
On June 9, 2025: Martinez experienced major right elbow injury.
On August 19, 2026: Martinez returned facing Boston Red Sox.
On August 26, 2026: Martinez pitched successfully against Chicago Cubs.
On September 5, 2026: Martinez pitched relief against Houston Astros.
On September 7, 2026: Martinez earned win against Kansas Royals.
On September 11, 2026: Martinez threw immaculate inning against Rangers.
On September 12, 2026: Diamondbacks celebrated historic bullpen pitching milestone.
Expected in coming weeks: Martinez will anchor high leverage bullpen roles during postseason.

Why it matters

Immediate US impact: Fans celebrate rare historic pitching achievement across national baseball broadcasts. Possible long-term US impact: Diamondbacks strengthen bullpen depth heading into competitive late season push. Most affected groups: Arizona Diamondbacks management, relief pitchers, coaching staff, and fans nationwide. Reader Priorities: Official MLB score updates, team injury reports, and game recaps.

Coverage notes

Left: Emphasizes local fan excitement, franchise history, and team milestone celebrations. Center: Focuses strictly on verified game statistics and official team records. Right: Highlights national broadcast highlights, playoff race implications, and elite pitcher rankings.