Post by Fish Troll on Apr 2, 2007 23:20:33 GMT -5
Pena makes splash in opener
Rookie shortstop collects two triples on first Opening Day
By Conor Nicholl / MLB.com
KANSAS CITY -- Every Royals locker has a blue and white name plate. Except one: Tony Pena, Jr.
Positioned on a row of lockers between Ryan Shealy on the left and Esteban German on the right, Pena's name plate is blank white space. After Opening Day, the superstitious shortstop doesn't hope to have one anytime soon.
Pena delivered a terrific performance in his Royals' debut, crushing two triples and drawing a walk. He also scored two runs and drove in another, helping the Royals to an Opening Day victory, 7-1, Monday afternoon at Kauffman Stadium.
"Let's keep it that way," Pena said of his nameless locker.
Pena, the newest member of the Royals and the son of former Royals manager Tony Pena, was acquired from the Braves for pitcher Erik Cordier on March 23. Known for his defense, Pena was just expected to play well in the field and replace the demoted Angel Berroa.
The rookie hit just .130 in 23 at-bats with the Royals and only .262 through Spring Training. On Monday, he appeared in Kauffman Stadium for the second time in his life and started in the Opening Day lineup for the first time in his career.
Admittedly having "goosebumps," the veteran of just 44 Major League at-bats hit ninth and faced a likely Hall of Famer in Curt Schilling.
Pena didn't have a scouting report on the Red Sox right-hander. His advice was something he heard from George Brett in Double-A.
"See the ball, hit the ball," Pena said. "If you can't see the ball, you can't hit the ball."
It worked.
With one out in the bottom of the second, he slammed a 2-2 splitter that stayed up in the strike zone off the Bud Light sign in left-center field. Two batters later, Mark Grudzielanek drove him home with a single that tied the score at 1-1.
It was the first Major League triple of his career. When was the last time he hit a ball that far?
"It was a long time ago," he said with a smile.
Pena drew a walk in the fourth inning off Schilling -- one of the Majors' best control pitchers and the active leader in strikeout to walk ratio -- that paved the way for three more runs and a four-inning day for Schilling.
Pena and John Buck later scored on Grudzielanek's double, giving the Royals a lead they would never relinquish.
In the eighth, he slammed another triple off near the 385 sign in left-center. The two three-baggers tied a club record and marked the 24th time and the first since David DeJesus on Sept. 30, 2006, that a Royal hit two triples in one game. Pena also matched a feat that his father equaled on Aug. 2, 1983 for the Pirates.
The offense helped ease his manager.
"I was more anxious for individuals," manager Buddy Bell said. "Gil, Alex, Pena, I want them to do well. Having a good game makes the off-day a lot better."
Pena also provided some strong defense in his debut, making a strong play up the middle on sixth-inning ground ball by Mike Lowell.
"Defense is definitely No. 1," Pena said. "That's what I have been known about. I want to continue to work on and improve in every part in every part of my game. Hopefully the hitting will come."
Just as long as his name plate stays empty.
Conor Nicholl is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Rookie shortstop collects two triples on first Opening Day
By Conor Nicholl / MLB.com
KANSAS CITY -- Every Royals locker has a blue and white name plate. Except one: Tony Pena, Jr.
Positioned on a row of lockers between Ryan Shealy on the left and Esteban German on the right, Pena's name plate is blank white space. After Opening Day, the superstitious shortstop doesn't hope to have one anytime soon.
Pena delivered a terrific performance in his Royals' debut, crushing two triples and drawing a walk. He also scored two runs and drove in another, helping the Royals to an Opening Day victory, 7-1, Monday afternoon at Kauffman Stadium.
"Let's keep it that way," Pena said of his nameless locker.
Pena, the newest member of the Royals and the son of former Royals manager Tony Pena, was acquired from the Braves for pitcher Erik Cordier on March 23. Known for his defense, Pena was just expected to play well in the field and replace the demoted Angel Berroa.
The rookie hit just .130 in 23 at-bats with the Royals and only .262 through Spring Training. On Monday, he appeared in Kauffman Stadium for the second time in his life and started in the Opening Day lineup for the first time in his career.
Admittedly having "goosebumps," the veteran of just 44 Major League at-bats hit ninth and faced a likely Hall of Famer in Curt Schilling.
Pena didn't have a scouting report on the Red Sox right-hander. His advice was something he heard from George Brett in Double-A.
"See the ball, hit the ball," Pena said. "If you can't see the ball, you can't hit the ball."
It worked.
With one out in the bottom of the second, he slammed a 2-2 splitter that stayed up in the strike zone off the Bud Light sign in left-center field. Two batters later, Mark Grudzielanek drove him home with a single that tied the score at 1-1.
It was the first Major League triple of his career. When was the last time he hit a ball that far?
"It was a long time ago," he said with a smile.
Pena drew a walk in the fourth inning off Schilling -- one of the Majors' best control pitchers and the active leader in strikeout to walk ratio -- that paved the way for three more runs and a four-inning day for Schilling.
Pena and John Buck later scored on Grudzielanek's double, giving the Royals a lead they would never relinquish.
In the eighth, he slammed another triple off near the 385 sign in left-center. The two three-baggers tied a club record and marked the 24th time and the first since David DeJesus on Sept. 30, 2006, that a Royal hit two triples in one game. Pena also matched a feat that his father equaled on Aug. 2, 1983 for the Pirates.
The offense helped ease his manager.
"I was more anxious for individuals," manager Buddy Bell said. "Gil, Alex, Pena, I want them to do well. Having a good game makes the off-day a lot better."
Pena also provided some strong defense in his debut, making a strong play up the middle on sixth-inning ground ball by Mike Lowell.
"Defense is definitely No. 1," Pena said. "That's what I have been known about. I want to continue to work on and improve in every part in every part of my game. Hopefully the hitting will come."
Just as long as his name plate stays empty.
Conor Nicholl is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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