Pena is not focusing on AL home run race

Although he still leads the AL in home runs nearly two weeks after suffering a season-ending broken hand, 1B Carlos Pena says he isn't paying attention to the race.

With 39 home runs, Peña leads the Yankees' Mark Teixeira by two homers and the Red Sox's Jason Bay by five entering Sunday's games. Teixeira, who hit two in New York's late game at Seattle on Saturday, has 13 games remaining to pass Peña.

The Rays have never had an AL home run champion. Jose Canseco was leading at the All-Star break in 1999 but injured his back and finished with 34 in 114 games. Pena set a club record with 46 in 2007, but New York's Alex Rodriguez won the title with 54.

"I don't wish anything bad on anyone, so why would I (follow the race)?" Pena said Saturday after a team photo shoot. "That would be nice, though, wouldn't it?

"But I've got all kinds of friends and family pulling for it to happen, so I don't even look for it. They call me and say, 'Hey, I'm pulling for it.' I'm like, 'Thanks.'"

Pena's season ended Sept. 7 at New York when he was hit in the left hand by a 93-mph fastball from CC Sabathia. The impact snapped his middle finger and fractured his index finger, which Pena also broke last season.

Despite the severity of the injury, Pena stayed at the plate and took another pitch. He tried to check his swing and dropped his bat in pain.

"I put all that weight on it trying to check the swing, and the bone just came apart (in the middle finger)," Pena said. "It looked like there was one piece of finger over here and another piece (extended) over here."

Two pins were inserted in one finger and one in the other to help the injury heal properly. They'll stay in for another four weeks, but Pena will be able to temporarily remove his wrap and splints to start exercising the fingers Monday.

He figures he won't pick up a bat until December, although he'd be able to much sooner if there was a reason to.

Manager Joe Maddon said Pena's visit to the dugout Friday night gave the team a lift that may have had something to do with an 11-4 win over the Blue Jays.

"We brought his wonderful attitude out (Friday)," he said. "And I'm sure it had something to do with our attitude, too."

Standing pat

The Rays don't plan to promote anyone else to the big-league roster unless prompted by injury, meaning OF Matt Joyce, the former Armwood High star whom the Rays obtained from the Tigers for RHP Edwin Jackson, will probably finish the season as a minor-leaguer.

Joyce batted .188 with three home runs in 11 games with the Rays earlier in the year. He hit .273 with 16 homers and 66 RBIs for Triple-A Durham, which won the International League championship Thursday night.

The Rays apparently also won't get an early look at IF Sean Rodriguez, considered the key piece in the trade of LHP Scott Kazmir to the Angels last month.

Durham, incidentally, still has a game to play. The Bulls will play Pacific Coast League champion Memphis (Cardinals) for the Triple-A national championship Tuesday in Oklahoma City.

Odds and ends

IF Reid Brignac has made only one start since having a career night Monday at Baltimore (4-for-4, home run, two doubles). Maddon said the 23-year-old rookie will be "back out there" soon. ... OF Fernando Perez, who left Thursday's game against Baltimore with soreness in his surgically repaired left wrist, has been available to at least pinch run the past two nights.

Tony Fabrizio