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Red-hot Carlos Pena, Rays look to take down Orioles

Apr 12, 2008 - 1:58 PM Baltimore (6-4) at Tampa Bay (5-5) 7:10 pm EDT

ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Ticker) - Carlos Pena is one of many Tampa Bay Rays' hitters who was struggling to find his stroke early in the season. Two homers and six RBI on Friday suggest that Pena has found his swing.

The Rays will be looking to post their third straight victory when they host the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday.

Entering Friday's contest, second baseman Akinori Iwamura led Tampa Bay in hitting at a paltry .222. But the Rays pounded out 15 hits on Friday, led by Pena and B.J. Upton, who had three hits.

Eight runs combined in the seventh and eight inning lifted Tampa Bay to a 10-5 win as the club pounded a Baltimore bullpen that held a 0.74 ERA this season.

Daniel Cabrera (0-0, 9.00 ERA) will look to take some pressure off the relief corps when he starts for the Orioles, who have dropped three straight after a surprising 6-1 start.

The enigmatic righthander has been terrible so far this season, allowing 10 runs and 11 hits while walking nine in 10 innings over two starts.

He earned a no decision against Tampa Bay on April 2, allowing six runs in six frames in a game Baltimore eventually won, 9-6.

The Rays will be hoping for a strong effort from young righthander Jason Hammel (0-1, 6.00). The 25-year-old allowed four runs and eight hits in six innings against the New York Yankees last Monday.

He is 0-3 with an 8.84 ERA in four career starts against the Orioles.