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Rays: Franchise was awarded 20 years ago Monday

 
Published March 10, 2015

Happy anniversary

It was 20 years ago Monday — March 9, 1995, at the Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach — that the Tampa Bay expansion franchise was awarded to the ownership group led by Vince Naimoli.

Another fish story

Bench coach Tom Foley offered to make the trip to Fort Myers for today's split-squad games so that Kevin Cash could manage at home in Port Charlotte. But Cash quickly realized it wasn't out of the kindness of Foley's heart. "Don't let him fool you," Cash said. "There's Bass Pro Shops and Blu Sushi. He's dying to go down there."

The dish

Rays (ss) vs. Pirates

When/where: 1:05 today; Charlotte Sports Park, 2300 El Jobean Road, Port Charlotte

Radio: raysbaseball.com, signup required

Tickets: Reserved seats $19-29, berm/boardwalk $10. Available through raysbaseball.com and Ticketmaster, at Tropicana Field and Charlotte Sports Park box offices, Tampa team store, via phone (toll-free 1-800-745-3000).

Gates open: 11 a.m.

Directions: Driving time from the bay area is 1½-2 hours. Suggested route: I-75 south to Exit 179 (Toledo Blade Road), go west 6½ miles (crossing U.S. 41) to El Jobean Road (SR 776), go right 2 miles, complex is on the left.

Parking: $10, lots open at 10.

Rays information: Toll-free 1-888-326-7297 (FAN-RAYS)

Pitchers: Rays — Burch Smith, Enny Romero, Everett Teaford, Jhan Marinez, Grayson Garvin; Pirates — Francisco Liriano, relievers TBA

Rays (ss) vs. Red Sox

When/where: 1:05 today; JetBlue Park, 11500 Fenway South Drive, Fort Myers

Tickets: Reserved seats $15-48. Available through redsox.com, 1-888-REDSOX6.

Pitchers: Rays — Matt Andriese, Andrew Bellatti, Bryce Stowell, Dylan Floro, Mike Montgomery; Red Sox — Justin Masterson, relievers TBA

Heads up

With two games today, most of the veterans — Asdrubal Cabrera, David DeJesus, John Jaso, Desmond Jennings, James Loney, Evan Longoria and Rene Rivera — will play in Port Charlotte.

On deck

Wednesday: at Twins (Fort Myers), 1:05. Rays — Jake Odorizzi; Twins — Tommy Milone

Thursday: vs. Blue Jays, 1:06. Rays — Alex Cobb; Jays — TBA

Friday: at Phillies (Clearwater), 1:05. Rays — Chris Archer; Phillies — TBA

Exhibition schedule

All games 1:05 p.m. unless noted.

March

14 at Orioles

15 vs. Mets

17 at Phillies

18 at Blue Jays, 1:07

19 vs. Twins *

20 vs. Blue Jays

21 vs. Twins

22 at Blue Jays, 12:37

23 vs. Pirates

25 at Twins

26 vs. Yankees *

27 at Orioles

28 vs. Red Sox *

29 at Red Sox **

30 vs. Orioles

31 at Orioles (ss) vs. Red Sox (ss)

April

1 at Yankees

2 at Phillies

3 at Tigers **

4 vs. Tigers at Tropicana Field, 12:35

* Televised on Sun Sports

** Televised on MLB Network

Marc Topkin, Times staff writer