Duffy flirts with no-no, logs 16 K’s in beating Rays

ST. PETERSBURG — This was almost no-hit stuff. And almost unhittable stuff.

Royals left-hander Danny Duffy simply dominated the Rays in a 3-0 win on Monday night, carrying a no-hitter into the eighth inning before Desmond Jennings ripped a solid double to left.

Duffy struck out five of the first six hitters, and posting a franchise- and career-high 16 strikeouts in the process.

Duffy, who started the season in the bullpen, employed two-seam and four-seam fastballs in the 95-97 mph range along with a devastating changeup at 85-87. He also mixed in a slider and constantly kept the Rays off-balance and guessing.

Duffy walked one — Logan Forsythe on a 3-2 pitch — and didn’t allow a ground-ball out.

MOMENTS THAT MATTEREDStriking distance: The Rays seemed to have little chance against Duffy at the plate all night. Their best opportunity to score came in the fourth when Forsythe walked with none out and advanced to third on a throwing error from Duffy with two out. But Duffy struck out Steven Souza Jr.

Golden Arch: Rays starter Chris Archer wasn’t the best pitcher on Monday …

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