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Royals reserve shortstop Tony Peña Jr. took the mound for the ninth inning of a 19-4 loss to the Tigers on Monday night, with surprising results: three up, three down. He threw 12 pitches, eight for strikes; consistently topped 90 m.p.h. on the radar gun; and fanned catcher Pudge Rodriguez.
Maybe the Tigers were tired from scoring 10 runs in the eighth. Maybe they wanted to make last call. Or maybe Peña can pitch.
Kansas City manager Trey Hillman said Peña's performance provided "comic relief, because he was so effective."
The Royals needed a laugh, since reliever Jimmy Gobble surrendered 10 runs - all earned, on seven hits and four walks - in the previous inning. Gobble was placed on the disabled list with a sore back Tuesday.
Kansas City Hall of Fame scout Art Stewart graded Peña as having an "above average" fastball with "above average" command.
Asked about his future, Peña said, "Playing shortstop."
Posada, on the 15-day disabled list, believes he can help the Yankees as a designated hitter or first baseman.
"I've got 15 days to make a decision," he said. "I'll rehab it and see how it feels and have a decision by then."
Posada said his sore shoulder made catching "out of the question." And he knows that delaying surgery until after this season likely will cost him some of the 2009 season.
As usual, the Yankees have more subplots than War and Peace. Outfielder Hideki Matsui, out since June 23 with a sore knee, also is delaying surgery.
The Yankees also have Jason Giambi and newly acquired Richie Sexson in the first base-DH mix.
Contact staff writer Phil Anastasia at 856-779-3223 or panastasia@phillynews.com.
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