Carlos Peña becomes first Tampa Bay Rays player to reach 100 RBIs in three seasons

ST. PETERSBURG — Manager Joe Maddon has said 1B Carlos Peña is "swinging the bat as well as I've ever seen him."

And thanks to a red-hot stretch, Peña has done something no Ray has ever done.

Peña's RBI single in the third inning Saturday made him the first Ray to have three 100-RBI seasons, after he did it the past two. And Evan Longoria, who tied his 2008 total of 27 homers, is within one RBI of giving Tampa Bay two players in triple digits for the first time.

"I'm grateful that I have the opportunity to go out and do that," Peña said. "I'm happy to be able to reach that. And as I keep on saying, all I want to do is keep on improving."

Peña has been at his best the past 17 games, hitting .356 (21-for-59) with eight homers, 23 RBIs and an .813 slugging percentage. The All-Star said he's just glad he has been able to translate his work in the cage onto the field.

"He's kind of re-invented himself during the course of the season; I'm very happy for him and us," Maddon said. "From a trained eye, you can really watch what he's doing right now, it's kind of amazing what he's done over the last couple weeks in regard to changing his swing path."

READY TO GO: RHP Wade Davis, 23, one of the Rays' top prospects, makes his major-league debut today against the Tigers, with about a dozen family members and friends expected to attend.

"It never really felt real until it actually happened," Davis said of pitching in the majors. "You always think, 'Yeah, I'm going to get there.' But you can never tell. I've always envisioned being here, but didn't know if I'd get here."

Maddon likes Davis' stuff, including his mid 90s fastball, good curveball and a changeup that the rookie said he has improved this past year. As important, the Rays like his competitiveness, makeup and ability to handle difficult moments.

"His composure is one of his big attributes," said Mitch Lukevics, director of minor-league operations.

Maddon met with Davis on Saturday, telling him not to change anything on the mound, just be himself. "I think a lot of people come up and try to be perfect," Davis said. "I want to stay aggressive, like I have been."

ACTION JACKSON: Tigers RHP Edwin Jackson said it'll be kind of like high school all over again today when he starts against his former team, pitching against a lot of friends.

But though Jackson has similar stuff and mechanics as the pitcher who won 14 games for Tampa Bay last season, his former teammates may notice some differences when they step to the plate.

"Control and command," Tigers 3B Brandon Inge said. "He's throwing strikes, he's getting Strike 1 right away. He's making the hitter hit his pitches instead of getting behind."

B.J. BETTER: Maddon said CF B.J. Upton's sprained left ankle continues to improve. Upton did some light field work Saturday afternoon and was scheduled to hit in the cage, with the possibility that he could be available to pinch-hit today. If Upton progresses more, he could start one of the doubleheader games against the Yankees on Monday in New York.

OUT OF BOUNDS: Major League Baseball officials are looking into the Friday postgame actions of Tigers RHP Fernando Rodney, who threw a ball from the field into the press box, where several reporters were working. No one was hurt.

Tigers manager Jim Leyland said before Saturday's game that he had spoken with Rodney — who was scheduled to be off anyway — but downplayed the incident.

"It doesn't bother me at all," Leyland said. "Obviously there was no intent to do anything wrong. I've seen 30 balls thrown into the stands during batting practice every night. I've seen third-base coaches throw them into the stands over the dugout."

BULLS REPEAT: The Triple-A Durham Bulls beat Norfolk 5-1 Saturday to clinch their third straight International League South Division title.

Joe Smith can be reached at joesmith@sptimes.com