Pena to debut against Pirates on Friday

By ROGER MOONEY
rmooney@bradenton.com
PORT CHARLOTTE — Carlos Pena is scheduled to see his first game action Friday at McKechnie Field against the Pirates.

“That’s the plan,” said Pena, who will miss the Rays first eight games as he rehabs from surgery in January to repair two small tears in his lower abdominal muscle. “I watch a couple of innings of the games, and I just want to get out there. I have the urge to get back out and start playing.”

The Gold Glove first baseman has spent most of the first two weeks of camp working with the Rays training staff to build up his stomach muscles.

“I think this has been good for me,” Pena said. “I’m working on muscles I never really worked on before. I think I’m going to be in the best shape of my life.”

Niemann impressive again
Rays pitcher Jeff Niemann, one of four competing for the final spot in the rotation, had another impressive outing Tuesday when he allowed one run in three innings against the Astros at Charlotte Sports Park.

“Another good outing,” Rays manager Maddon said. “All these guys are going out there and throwing the ball really, really well. Jeff was good again (Tuesday).”

Niemann is competing with Mitch Talbot, Jason Hammel and David Price for the fifth spot in the rotation.

Maddon said before the game that he wants that decision to be a tough one, and so far he appears to be getting his wish.

Hammel hasn’t allowed a run in six innings over two starts.

Talbot struggled in the first inning of his first start Saturday against the Phillies in Clearwater, but bounced back in the next two innings.

Price is one of the pitchers behind held out of games until Saturday.
Niemann has allowed one run in his first innings. He has seven strikeouts.

Take your base
Pat Burrell, Gape Kapler, Dioner Navarro and Adam Kennedy drew consecutive walks with the bases loaded during the Rays 10-run second inning Tuesday.

“We were very patient with the bases-loaded last year,” Maddon said. “I just like the idea we’re not going to be over-anxious in that moment. Of course they had some pitchers out there who were missing the plate, but as a group that’s part of what we’re trying to nurture. We will accept our walks. Sometimes with the bases loaded guys get too eager to swing the bat, so it’s kind of nice to see that.”

The rotation
Beginning Saturday, James Shields, Matt Garza, Scott Kazmir and David Price will start pitching in the exhibition games. Maddon held those four out because they pitched in the postseason.

He will name the order in which those four will pitch before Wednesday’s game against the Puerto Rican National Team at Charlotte Sports Park.

NOTEWORTHY
INF Reid Brignac snapped an 0-for-11 skid to start the spring with a home run to right field that touched off the Rays 10-run second inning in their 12-2 win against the Astros ... SS Jason Bartlett was 3-for-3 with an RBI double to raise his spring average to .636 ... 1B Chris Richard is batting .400 ... Adam Kennedy played third base for the first time this spring ... The Rays will be featured on the MLB Network’s “30 Teams in 30 Days” at 8 p.m. Wednesday.