Rockies Lose 6-3

Nick Martinez threw six scoreless innings, Leonys Martin homered and the Texas Rangers beat the Colorado Rockies 6-3 on Thursday night.

Martinez, competing for the final vacancy in the Rangers’ rotation, allowed five hits and walked one. He struck out four, throwing 54 strikes in 74 pitches, and lowered his ERA to 0.84 in three spring appearances. He has allowed one run over 9 2-3 innings.

Martinez went 5-12 with a 4.55 ERA as a rookie last year, making 24 starts and five relief appearances.

Martin homered in the third with Robinson Chirinos aboard. Chirinos was hit by a pitch from Chad Bettis.

Ed Lucas, Nate Schierholtz and Adam Rosales delivered run-producing hits in a four-run eighth.

Bettis, optioned to Triple-A on Sunday, was brought back to face the Rangers. He yielded two runs and three hits in four innings, walking none and striking out four.