Rays' Pena back in swing, hits pair of RBI doubles in 8-5 win over Pirates
03/06/09 -- BRADENTON, Fla. -- It took Carlos Pena just one pitch to get back in the swing of things for the Tampa Bay Rays.
Pena doubled twice and drove in three runs in his spring debut, and the Rays beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 8-5 on Friday.
Pena led the AL champions with 31 home runs and 102 RBIs last year despite missing 20 games because of a broken finger. He had off-season surgery for a torn abdominal muscle.
In his first exhibition game, he hit the first pitch he saw off the left-field wall for an RBI double. A few centimetres higher and Pena would've had a home run.
"Before the game, I was wondering if I should take a few pitches in my first at-bat," Pena said. "But then I thought, no, if I like it, hit it."
Pena paused and grinned.
"I liked it."
After Pena scored on Dioner Navarro's single, he received some good-natured ribbing from his teammates.
"They were making fun of me for belly-flopping at home plate," Pena said.
In the second inning, Pena hit a two-run double down the line into shallow left field.
"I felt good out there, even running," said Pena, who will take a day off and play again Sunday against the Red Sox. "I was able to stay focused, see the ball and keep things simple. I'm very happy with that."
Left-hander Carlos Hernandez blanked the Pirates for 3 2-3 innings. He extended his spring scoreless streak to 7 2-3 innings.
"I threw too many pitches (74), which is something I'll have to work on," Hernandez said. "But other than that, I felt good."
Hernandez broke in with the Houston Astros in 2001, but his season was cut short by a rotator cuff injury. He has not pitched in the majors since 2004 and was out of the game entirely two years ago.
The Rays rediscovered Hernandez last year and sent him to single-A Vero Beach. He went 2-1 with a 1.04 ERA in six starts.
Although he started Friday against the Pirates, the 28-year-old Hernandez also is a candidate for Tampa Bay's bullpen.
"I find him interesting," manager Joe Maddon said. "He can be used both ways (starter and reliever). We'll have to evaluate how we'll use him down the road."
Pirates left-fielder Andrew McCutchen made solid contact in his two at-bats against Hernandez, but wound up with lineouts. In the fifth inning, McCutchen hit a solo homer off the scoreboard in left field against Dale Thayer.
"My eyes are really starting to adjust to the ball," said McCutchen, who is the Pirates' top outfield prospect. "They're really starting to get in that baseball shape again.
"That's all I need, just to reassure myself that everything I worked on this off-season is coming together."
Elliot Johnson hit his second home run of the spring for the Rays.
Notes: Pat Burrell left Rays camp to attend his sister's wedding, and will return in time for Monday's game. "By the time he gets back, it will still be the length of a normal spring training," Maddon said. "And, as the DH, we can get him a lot of at-bats." ... Pirates 1B-OF Steve Pearce will be out until next week with a strained left calf. Pearce has missed the past eight games. ... Pirates LHP Phil Dumatrait, on the mend after shoulder surgery, threw his first live batting practice.
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