Doug Martin was in need of a new start after two straight subpar seasons led to his offseason release by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Getting the chance to do it near his boyhood home in Northern California Youth Harold Landry Jersey , with an Oakland team featuring a strong offensive line and a coach in Jon Gruden eager to establish a powerful running attack, only made the decision to join the Raiders even easier.

Now Martin wants to prove he can get back to the form that made him a Pro Bowler twice in his first four seasons.

"My approach is just basically I'm a rookie again," Martin said. "I have to prove to the team and the players, coaches that I can be useful on this team. Like I said, I just act like a rookie and go out and play. Play the game that I love."

Martin has had a roller-coaster career since entering the league with Tampa Bay as a first-round pick out of Boise State in 2012. He is the only player currently on an NFL roster with two seasons of at least 1,400 yards rushing, reaching that mark as a rookie with the Bucs and then again three years later in Tampa Bay.

But he has failed to reach 500 yards rushing in his other four seasons in the NFL and is also the only active player with two seasons averaging fewer than 3 yards per carry with at least 100 attempts, doing that the past two years when he was hampered by injuries and a four-game suspension for violating the league policy on performance-enhancing drugs.

Martin also was suspended one game last year by the Bucs for a violation of team rules, all contributing to the decision by Tampa Bay to cut him this offseason.

"The past couple of years I just got in my own way," he said. "Being here and having my family around and old friends, it's definitely going to help me stay busy. I can always confide in them if I need something to talk about."

Martin, who grew up in nearby Stockton, fondly remembers his only other trip to the Bay Area as a professional when he ran for 251 yards on 25 carries in Oakland as a rookie in 2012 with about 50 friends and family members in the crowd.

Martin also said the opportunity to run Bay Area hills near his grandfather's house has helped get him in top condition that he hopes will benefit him once the season begins.

That work has shown up on the field.

"He finished a run to the end zone today and didn't stop until he got there and then he ran back to make sure he's getting even more in shape," quarterback Derek Carr said. "It's little things like that that show young guys http://www.dolphinsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-albert-wilson-jersey , 'Hey man, that's how you do it.' That's been since Day 1. He's been one of the hardest workers since we got here in Phase 1, hands down. He's been one of the guys out there that just every day sticks out doing something where you see why he's a Pro Bowler."

The Raiders are hoping Martin will fit in well in a backfield led by Marshawn Lynch, who rushed for 524 yards and five TDs in his final eight games last season, ranking tied for third in that span in yards rushing per game.

Oakland didn't get much consistent help from backups Jalen Richard and DeAndre Washington a year ago, leading to the move to add Martin to the mix.

"Doug has really jumped out in this camp," offensive coordinator Greg Olson said. "His quickness, his ability to pick up the offense and what we've given him. That's been very encouraging. He really has a fresh set of legs and that's probably been the most encouraging. When you watch him run out here in the drills that we've run and the strength and conditioning staff and the things that we've been doing there, it just looks like he's got a real fresh set of legs."

CC Sabathia shut down the high-scoring Red Sox, Greg Bird hit two home runs and Aaron Judge connected off a college teammate as the New York Yankees bopped Boston 8-1 on Friday night to retake the top record in the majors.

Not since the famed Bucky Dent playoff game in 1978 had the Yankees and Red Sox met so late in a season when they owned the two best marks in baseball. Home runs decided this matchup, too, with Miguel Andujar also going deep for New York.

The biggest crowd of the year at Yankee Stadium was in the spirit as lines forming outside the gates more than 3 1/2 hours before the start. The pro-Yankees chants began prior to the first pitch, the anti-Boston shouts soon followed.

Sabathia (5-3) helped end Boston’s four-game winning streak, less than a month from his 38th birthday. He gave up one run and six hits in seven innings.

Steve Pearce Browns Authentic Jerseys , acquired a day earlier from Toronto, batted cleanup in his debut for Boston and doubled and singled off Sabathia. No matter, the big lefty improved to 6-0 in his last seven starts against Boston. Eduardo Rodriguez (9-3) gave up five early runs. Boston fell to 3-4 against their rivals this season, and 12 more games are left.

Judge connected for his 21st homer, a two-run drive in the seventh off Justin Haley. Before the game, the former Fresno State players chatted for a while behind the cage during batting practice – the rookie reliever angrily kicked at the mound dirt as Judge circled the bases.

Gleyber Torres tripled and scored on Andujar’s single in the second. Torres added a sacrifice fly in a four-run fourth, capped by back-to-back homers from Andujar and Bird. Bird added a solo drive in the eighth. The Yankees lead the majors with 131 home runs.

NATIONALS 17, PHILLIES 7

PHILADELPHIA (AP) – Juan Soto hit two of Washington’s seven home runs, finishing with four hits and five RBIs, and the Nationals routed Philadelphia.

Anthony Rendon, Trea Turner, Bryce Harper, Brian Goodwin and Mark Reynolds also homered for the Nationals, who set a season high for homers. Washington had scored just three runs while losing three straight. Rendon added two doubles and three RBIs Quenton Nelson Jersey , and Harper also contributed three hits and three RBIs.

Rhys Hoskins, Scott Kingery and Carlos Santana homered for Philadelphia. Kingery was a triple shy of the cycle. The teams combined for 28 hits, including 16 for extra bases, on a steamy night in Philadelphia with the game-time temperature 90 degrees.

Erick Fedde (1-3) earned his first major league win in his eighth career start, allowing five runs on eight hits in five innings with three strikeouts and three walks.

Nick Pivetta (4-7) was the loser.

RAYS 3, ASTROS 2

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) – Wilmer Font and four relievers combined on a three-hitter and Tampa Bay snapped Houston’s 11-game road winning streak.

Font (2-3) allowed one run and one hit over five-plus innings before an injury forced him to leave the game. Diego Castillo, Chaz Roe, Sergio Romo and Jose Alvarado held the Astros in check the rest of the way. Alvarado got the final out for his second save.

A strained right lat caused Font’s early exit.

Alex Bregman homered for the Astros, who lost for just fourth time in 22 games overall. Gerrit Cole (9-2) gave up three runs – one earned – and five hits in six innings to end his seven-game winning streak.

ANGELS 7, ORIOLES 1

BALTIMORE (AP) – Mike Trout celebrated his return to center field with a solo home run and an impressive catch, and Los Angeles beat Baltimore to snap a six-game skid.

Martin Maldonado also homered for Los Angeles, Andrelton Simmons had four hits and Felix Pena (1-0) allowed five hits over 5 1/3 shutout innings.

Back in the outfield after an ineffective nine-day stretch as a designated hitter, Trout hit his 24th home run in the first inning off David Hess (2-5) to spark the Angels to their first win in a week. The two-time AL MVP reached base three times and ran down a liner in the gap to rob Danny Valencia of a potential fourth-inning double.

Baltimore owns the worst record in the majors (23-58) Phillip Gaines Color Rush Jersey , and is playing at a pace to lose 116 games. The Orioles have dropped 16 of 17 at home and are 0-14 against the AL West.

CUBS 10, TWINS 6

CHICAGO (AP) – Addison Russell hit his second career grand slam, Jason Heyward and Ben Zobrist had two-run homers and Chicago rallied to beat Minnesota.

Kyle Schwarber added his 16th home run, a solo shot in seventh, and Anthony Rizzo completed Chicago’s scoring with an RBI single in the eighth. The Cubs have won three in a row after dropping four straight.

Russell’s second homer in two days chased Jose Berrios (8-6) with one out the fifth and put Chicago ahead for the first time, 6-5.

Minnesota’s Joe Mauer homered among three hits and finished with a season-high five RBIs. Coming through twice with two outs, Mauer hit a three-run shot in the second and lined a two-run double off starter Mike Montgomery (3-2) in the fourth.

Brandon Morrow got the final out for his 17th save.

GIANTS 2, DIAMONDBACKS 1

PHOENIX (AP) – Andrew Suarez pitched six strong innings, Austin Slater had a pair of RBI doubles and San Francisco beat Arizona.

Suarez (3-4) gave up a run, scattering seven hits in his first win in five starts.

Slater, recalled from Triple-A Sacramento four times this season – most recently last Saturday – doubled in a run off Patrick Corbin in the second and knocked in the go-ahead score off Andrew Chafin (1-3) in the seventh. Slater also singled.

Will Smith pitched a perfect ninth for his first save since April 13, 2014.

BREWERS 8, REDS 2

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