![\"Spencer](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Horwitz-2-1120x630.jpg\")
Photo provided by Matt Lynch\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPhoto provided by Matt Lynch\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
PITTSBURGH \u2014 Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Spencer Horwitz knows how good he\u2019s done against Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Nick Martinez in his career.<\/p>\n
Entering play on Friday night, Horwitz was a perfect 7 for 7 off Martinez with two doubles, a home run, four RBI and a pair of walks.<\/p>\n
While he knows he sees Martinez well, the reason is not as obvious to Horwitz.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s a tough question,\u201d Horwitz said when asked why the matchup is such a favorable one. \u201cI\u2019d say just something about his delivery. I guess I just pick it up really well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Whatever the exact reason is, Horwitz continued his dominance over Martinez in the Pirates\u2019 5-1 win over the Rays<\/a> at PNC Park. Horwitz went 3 for 3 with a double against the Rays starter \u2014 now a perfect 10 for 10 against him \u2014 and drove in Pittsburgh\u2019s first run of the game. <\/p>\n Knowing how past meetings with Martinez have gone, Horwitz felt good going into the game.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s definitely\u00a0an extra boost of confidence,\u201d Horwitz explained. \u201cWhenever you can see a guy more than once, it makes the at-bat way easier. Now that I\u2019m getting a little order, this is my second time, and this is my third season, I\u2019m just seeing those guys and have that familiarity of what they want to do.\u201d<\/p>\n In his fourth trip to the plate, Horwitz drew a walk against Yoendrys G\u00f3mez and scored a run and scored on Brandon Lowe\u2019s double off the wall in right-center field.<\/p>\n It was the latest quality performance for Horwitz, who has heated up after a sluggish start to the season.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s kind of just settling in. What are we, 20 games in? This year was my first Opening Day and I was so jacked up for that and so jacked\u00a0up for this season that I think I was trying to do too much,\u201d he explained. \u201cThen it\u2019s just gradually as the season\u2019s started to progress, I\u2019ve settled into myself.\u201d<\/p>\n Horwitz was hitting just .111 with a .311 through a small sample of six games to begin the season. But in 12 games since, the 28-year-old is batting .355 with two doubles, a home run and more walks (seven) than strikeouts (four).<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, it\u2019s great,\u201d Horwitz said of his recent performance. \u201cGreat for me, great for the team. Just keep going. That\u2019s what it\u2019s been for me my whole career. It\u2019s ebbs and flows, but trust the work is gonna work and today it showed up.\u201d<\/p>\n Last year, Horwitz was the only player on the Pirates who was better than league-average. In his first year with Pittsburgh, Horwitz\u2019s 118 OPS+ was tops on the roster. Bryan Reynolds was second with a 99 OPS+.<\/p>\n This year, however, the lineup around Horwitz is much improved. The Pirates offense has gotten off to a hot start with a couple offseason additions performing well and improved showings from Reynolds and Oneil Cruz.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it eases the pressure on a lot of guys,\u201d Horwitz said of the improved lineup. \u201cI went from hitting second, third, or fourth and now I\u2019m hitting seventh. I don\u2019t think that\u2019s a knock on me, I think that\u2019s a complement to\u00a0 the other guys we brought in because they\u2019re doing it day in and day out \u2026 We have lots of depth.\u201d<\/p>\n No matter where he\u2019s hitting in this year\u2019s lineup, the Pirates will be counting on continued production from Horwitz \u2014 even if he doesn\u2019t get to face Martinez again. <\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMentioned in this article: Pittsburgh Pirates<\/a> Spencer Horwitz<\/a> <\/p>\n