BASEBALL ROUNDUP News and notes

Tigers: Carlos Pena was unconditionally released Sunday after the first baseman struggled during spring training. Pena batted .160 with one home run in 50 at-bats in exhibition games. He split last season between Detroit and Triple-A Toledo. He hit .235 with 18 homers in 79 games with the Tigers and .311 with 12 homers with the Mud Hens. Pena signed a $2.8 million, one-year contract that wasn't guaranteed and will receive $688,525 in termination pay. The Tigers acquired him from Oakland in 2002 with Jeremy Bonderman and Franklyn German for Jeff Weaver, and he showed flashes of promise but struggled for stretches at the plate. Pena began last season as the starting first baseman, but was sent down to Toledo with a .181 batting average on May 31. After being recalled Aug. 17, he hit .286 with 15 homers with 30 RBIs in 38 games. Pena's career average is .243 with 85 home runs -- 50 in August or later -- and 240 RBIs in 489 games since making his major league debut with Texas in 2001. He led Detroit with 27 homers and was third with 82 RBIs two years ago.
Nationals: Manager Frank Robinson continues to be understanding about Alfonso Soriano's troubles in the outfield. After all, Robinson knows it's a work in progress. Soriano misplayed a ball in the first inning that led to a run, but was 2-for-4 with a home run, a walk and three runs to help Washington beat Houston 13-6 Sunday. "It just goes to show you he's focused as far as his offense is concerned," Robinson said. "The plays in the outfield, I tried to warn anybody who would listen, it's going to be a work in progress. He got a little lesson today, and if he learns from these things, that's what we want. We don't want him to make the same kind of mistakes two or three times."
Athletics: Frank Thomas played his first game with Oakland and homered. He struck out in his first at-bat and then hit a 1-1 pitch off Josh Fogg that sailed high over the billboards beyond the left-center field fence, setting off a mild celebration in the dugout. "I saw a couple of pitches and slowed everything down and hit the ball hard," Thomas said. "I was embarrassed my first time up, but the nice thing about baseball is you can turn it around the next time."
Around the bases: Mets ace Pedro Martinez pitched three scoreless innings in his first spring training start. ... Dodgers closer Eric Gagne shook off a rough outing allowing a double and a run-scoring single in one inning. He struck out two. ... Twins starter Brad Radke gave up five hits and two earned runs in five innings in one of his best outings of the spring. He lowered his ERA from 6.75 to 5.82. ... Yankees starter Chien-Ming Wang left in the third inning with a bruised right knee after being hit by a batted ball. X-rays were negative.
Associated Press
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