Tampa Bay Rays 1B Carlos Pena hits five HRs in derby, reaches swing-off before ouster

UPDATE, 9:53: Pena is out as hometown hero Albert Pujols hit two to win the "swing-off" and advance to the second round.

UPDATE: Pena hit one homer and made four outs in his alloted five swings. Mauer didn't hit any, though one ball hit high on the CF wall and he is out.

UPDATE, 9:40: Pena is in a five-swing swingoff for a spot in the next roun, tied with Joe Mauer and Albert Pujols.

UPDATE: Carlos Pena hit five homers in the derby before making his 10th out, which was good enough for thrid place at the time.

UPDATE: Pena has five homers and eight outs.

UPDATE: Pena has four homers to left-center, and four outs.

UPDATE: So far, three outs, no homers.

- - -Pena is about to step up. Scott McNulty, the Rays batting practice pitcher is throwing to him.

Thus far, Texas' Nelson Cruz and Milwaukee's Prince Fielder have 11 each, San Diego's Adrian Gonzalez has two and Brandon Inge had none.

Tampa Bay Rays 1B Carlos Pena is hitting fifth in tonight's home run derby.

Comments

[tbird]

Razzle you cannot be serious. Pena has had 1/2 season and the rest of his career to learn to go opposite field and hasn't done it. Why now, why at something called "HOME RUN DERBY" where the main purpose is to entertain the fans and hit as many homers as you can. If it was because the left field fence is shorter, why hasn't he employed it at Fenway? Just baffles me why he would do it at this time.

[Razzlegator]

Maybe Carlos is working on his opposite field hitting. That would make the shift go away, and make him a better player too.

[Razzlegator]

Maybe Carlos is working on his opposite field hitting. That would make the shift go away, and make him a better player too.

[tbird]

The main story here is why Pena instructed the pitches to be on the outside of the plate. It just doesn't make any sense for a dead pull hitter (doesn't everyone employ an exaggerated shift against him?) to suddenly decide to go opposite field in a HR derby. Marc, if you are reading this, I for one, would appreciate some possible "inside info" on the subject as his performance wasn't what the TB Rays fans expected--all five HR's to left center?????

[skp]

must have been the same guy who pitched to longo during his poor outing....clearly the rays organization isn't used to sending guys to the HR derby

....maybe pena should've brought andy sonnanstine along as his BP pitcher, people have no problem teeing off on him.

[tbird]

John--for what it's worth, Pena is a nice guy, a great guy, a great team player, a community favorite and we all love him. However, he didn't deserve to be in uniform in St. Louis and are you really surprised he didn't fare that well in the HR contest?

[John]

Pena was robbed!! He should have advanced to 2nd round. Pujol really only had 4 HR's. One of them was fan interference where the fan caught it under the HR line. Because Pujol is the fan favorite, they let him have it.

This is soooo wrong!

[tbird]

From what I heard, the guy pitching to Pena is the Rays batting practice pitcher and why is he going opposite field?? I can remember like all of 2 or 3 opposite field homers since Pena has been a Ray and tonight he went opposite with every swing. According to the announcers, it was by design--shorter distance--notice that Howard and Fielder had no trouble going to right field..Didn't like it and it didn't do much for Carlos.

[KennyNance]

That pitching was awful. Everything was low and outside, what was that all about. It wasnt that crap they were saying about his wrists not rolling, it was the outside pitches and him being so late was why he was hitting them to left field. hes a natural pull hitter.

[Kapler's Millions]

Who the F is this guy pitching to Carlos? It is like he is trying to strike him out.