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Pena propels Devil Rays in rout of Orioles

Sep 6, 2007 - 3:20 AM ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Ticker) -- The Tampa Bay Devil Rays bounced back against the Baltimore Orioles in a big way.

Carlos Pena hit two of the Devil Rays' five home runs and finished with a career-high seven RBI in the Devil Rays' 17-2 rout of the Orioles on Wednesday.

The 17 runs were a franchise-best in a home game for Tampa Bay, which dropped an 8-4 decision on Tuesday to Baltimore.

"Everybody's kind of perky," Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said. "We're having better at-bats. It was pretty much a complete game for us. We believe we can beat anyone on a nightly basis right now."

In addition, the Devil Rays amassed a season-high 22 hits and 40 total bases. The 15-run margin of victory was also a team record.

"As a team, we've been swinging the bats very well," Pena said. "We're having fun right now."

Pena hit his fifth career grand slam in the fifth and added a two-run homer in the sixth against the Orioles. Pena has 37 home runs and 105 RBI this season.

"I've been doing a pretty good job of trying to keep things simple," Pena said. "The less you think, the better you hit. Less is more."

Maddon thinks Pena is vastly underrated.

"He'd be in the running for MVP right now if he was in a different city," Maddon said.

Brendan Harris, Delmon Young and Jonny Gomes also hit home runs for the Devil Rays, who have won 10 of their last 13 games.

It was Harris' first home run in 263 at-bats.

"I've had some droughts before, but nothing like that," Harris said.

Every Tampa Bay starter collected at least two hits, except Young, who was 1-for-6 with four RBI.

Tampa Bay scored in each of the first four innings, breaking it open with an eight-run outburst in the fourth. The Devil Rays scored in every inning but the fifth and eighth.

"We're trying to do the best we can, it's just not working," Orioles manager Dave Trembley said. "We're having trouble staying away from the big inning."

Andy Sonnanstine (5-9) benefited from Tampa Bay's outburst. He surrendered only two earned runs in six innings in winning his third consecutive game.

"Putting up 17 runs in impressive," Sonnanstine said. "Carlos Pena, I've never seen a guy swing like this."

Rookie Radhames Liz (0-2) lasted only 1 2/3 innings, allowing six hits and four earned runs. Former Devil Ray Rob Bell didn't fare much better in relief, allowing six earned runs and seven hits in 1 1/3 innings.

"The change up wasn't very good tonight," Liz said. "It was all about control today. As soon as I get control of my pitches, I can have a good start."

Josh Wilson had four hits and Carl Crawford and Gomes had three hits apiece for Tampa Bay.