The Rays are in the Bay Area today to take on their AL East rivals, the Toronto Blue Jays. Tampa Bay will attempt to bounce back from a very ugly loss at the hands of the Detroit Tigers.
Left hander Matt Moore, by all accounts, didn’t look very good in his outing. Moore lasted 1-1/3 innings and giving up three hits and two runs while walking two. Jake McGee wasn’t much better. McGee came in to pitch the ninth, and was promptly pulled after facing five batters and allowing three runs.
There were a few highlights though. Roberto Hernandez pitched well. And though allowing a run and two walks in 2-1/3 innings may sound contradictory to the idea that he pitched well, Hernandez did record four ground ball outs and got through the second inning on just four pitches. Super Sammy drove in the Rays only runs on a fourth inning triple. Today is another day. Jake Odorizzi will get the start on the mound against the Jays.
The starting lineup and Noteworthiness are below.
Rays 3/1/13 Starting Lineup:
Jennings CF
Rodriguez 2B
Joyce LF
Duncan 1B
Cust DH
Molina C
Gimenez 3B
Guyer RF
Beckham SS
Odorizzi SP
Noteworthiness:
- Best of luck to Ben Zobrist as he makes his way to the WBC. We’ll be rooting you on, Zorilla!
- Looks like Evan Longoria is opening a restaurant/sports bar in Tampa, called Duckys. The restaurant/sports bar will feature a respectable menu, lots of big screen TV’s, and mini-bowling. You can see the press release below.
Ducky’s Sports Lounge will add a new dining and entertainment option in South Tampa, offering innovative bar foods, creative cocktails, state-of-the-art audio/visual capabilities and “mini bowling” in a relaxed, upscale atmosphere.
Located just west of downtown (1719 W. Kennedy Boulevard), the 5,700-square-foot boutique sports lounge will be the only restaurant in South Tampa to feature four lanes of mini bowling – a smaller, simpler form of the sport that does not require special shoes, uses a smaller ball, and incorporates two, 80-inch high-definition projection screens in the middle of each lane for optimal game viewing.
The main attraction for sports fans will be the 42-inch screens placed throughout the lounge, making Ducky’s the “best seat in the house” for every sporting event.
The restaurant will seat 148 guests and will be open seven days a week for lunch, dinner, happy hour and late night dining.
The Ducky’s Sports Lounge concept was created and developed by several Tampa area businessmen, including Tampa Bay Rays three-time American League All-Star third baseman, Evan Longoria.
“Ducky’s will have a little something for everyone – mini bowling for friends and families, a convenient happy hour spot for the downtown crowd and an incredible game-watching venue for sports fans,” said Keith Goan, one of Ducky’s owners. “It’s exciting to be a part of the current wave of development along Kennedy Boulevard and to bring this unique concept to the area.”
Ducky’s menu has been developed by long-time chef Frankie Midulla who has worked in New York, Miami and Tampa. Chef Frankie honed his craft locally at Valencia Gardens and at his own restaurant, Midulla’s.
The menu will consist of innovative bar foods ranging from pretzel-wrapped pigs in a blanket to Italian sausage sliders. The restaurant will also feature New York-style thin-crust pizzas created by veteran Tampa restaurateur, Rico Iavarone, along with menu items inspired by local heritage, such as deviled crab, media noche sliders and palomilla steak sandwiches. Healthier options include “The Healthy Duck” – a healthy special of the day – and a create-your-own salad option.
For more information on Ducky’s Sports Lounge, visit www.DuckysTampa.com.
- Finally, Ken Rosenthal recently wrote an article on the Rays/James Shields trade with the Royals. The Royals GM, Dayton Moore, and the Rays GM Andrew Friedman opened up about the trade that brought Wil Myers and three other prospects to The Rays.