" Carlos Peña , who becomes a free agent after this season, said he wants to remain in Tampa Bay and can envision himself in a Rays uniform next season.

"That's no secret. I would love to," he said Friday afternoon. "I grew up with this ballclub. Most of my growth as a ballplayer I've experienced with this uniform on, and I can identify with a bunch of these guys, because I think the same has happened to them. This is very special to me, so I think there is no secret that I want to stay here."

Peña, who made $10 million this season during the final year of his contract, didn't enhance his earning power by batting .196, the lowest average in the major leagues. With the Rays about to slash payroll, the 32-year-old first baseman would have to take a huge pay cut to remain in Tampa Bay.

"At the end of the day it's going to be, what kind of opportunities are there for me and what kind of interest is shown," he said. "I would like to think (the Rays) would be interested, but who am I to tell the future? So I have no idea. It should be very interesting. I think it's no secret how much I love it here."

The power Rangers The Rangers pounded Rays pitching for 19 hits, including four home runs, during the first two games. So how do you stop them? Matt Garza , who gets the call today for the Rays, has an idea.

"It's just going right after those guys, make them uncomfortable," he said. "Make them think about what they're doing, what they're going to swing at. Right now they're comfortable up there swinging and hitting the cover off the ball, so I've got to make them uncomfortable, make them do what I want them to do. And it's a hard job, definitely a hard job, but somebody has got to do it. And I feel I'm the right man for the job."

A parade of lefties Peña will return to the lineup this afternoon with the Rangers throwing RHP Colby Lewis . Joining Peña will be the rest of the left-handed bats - John Jaso , Matt Joyce and Dan Johnson .

Jaso will bat leadoff. Ben Zobrist will bat second, which means the plans to use B.J. Upton as the No. 2 hitter in the postseason has been scrapped"