Rangers vs. Tigers

[Bob Of Burleson]

Eek! Not Bazooka Joe. Please.

[BigTex]

Kinsler may get plunked but not on purpose.

[Bob Of Burleson]

Pena provides pop
in second game
with Rangers

First baseman goes 2-for-5 with home run for club that drafted him in 1998

By Grace Raynor / MLB.com

ARLINGTON -- Just one night after going 0-for-4 in his season debut in Arlington, Rangers first baseman Carlos Pena sent his first home run of the season over the right-field wall Wednesday in an 8-6 loss to the Tigers.

Pena was called up from Triple-A Round Rock on Tuesday, while first baseman and outfielder Brad Snyder was designated for assignment.

Against the Tigers Wednesday, Pena went 2-for-5 with two runs and a strikeout.

"He swung the bat a little better [Wednesday]. He's going to swing and miss but he does have the potential to hit the ball out of the ball park," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "He got him two [hits] tonight, and that's a good start for him. He's going to be OK. He will be OK."

Pena was selected 10th overall in the first round of the 1998 June First-Year Player Draft. His last home run in Arlington was in Game 3 of the American League Division Series in 2010.

The challenge in hitting, he said, is in controlling emotions.

"Pitchers will use that aggressiveness against you," he said. "It's so important to stay calm and be able to manage emotions and keep them under control."

Though the 36-year-old said his home run would've been sweeter had the Rangers pulled out the victory, Pena said he's thrilled to just be competing in the big leagues again.

"I'm going to tell you something," Pena said. "It's only by the grace of God that I'm here. And I cherish every single moment."

SOURCE

[BigTex]

This is painful to watch.

Why couldn't the College World Series have been best of 5? or 7?

[Bob Of Burleson]

Mercifully, it's over.