Pena Says He’s Pleased With Progress

MIAMI â€”  It says something about Dodger pitcher Alejandro Pena’s spring expectations that, after allowing four runs on two home runs in four innings Friday night against the Baltimore Orioles, he said he felt encouraged by his outing.

At this point, results aren’t important to Pena, now in his third spring of rehabilitating his right shoulder after major surgery. Pena pitched four innings and felt stronger as he progressed.

“I don’t feel bad,� Pena said. “I feel pretty good. I feel better right now than my last start and last (spring). I’m more strong. Right now, I still don’t feel like I have my whole delivery. But the more I throw, the better I feel.�

In the strange configuration of Joe Robbie Stadium, Pena started shakily. He allowed two singles in the first inning, then two doubles, a single and a three-run home run, to Ken Gerhart, in the second inning.

Even with a left-field fence of only 272 feet with a 30-foot screen, Gerhart’s blast off Pena was a legitimate home run.

An inning later, Pena gave up a home run to Fred Lynn that probably would have been a warning-track out in most stadiums.

Pena’s best inning was the fourth, when he retired the side.

Dodger Notes

Pedro Guerrero will leave the team this morning and fly to the Dominican Republic on personal business, according to Fred Claire, Dodger executive vice president. Guerrero is expected to rejoin the team Monday in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where the club plays Montreal Monday and Tuesday as part of a tribute to Roberto Clemente. Fred Claire, responding to talk that Guerrero receives preferential treatment, said that he handles all requests on an individual basis. “It’s a family matter,� Claire said. “He talked to me and told me what he wanted to do. It was important to Pete, so I told him yes.� . . . Offensive highlights for the Dodgers in a 10-8 exhibition win over the Orioles: Guerrero had a sixth-inning home run and a run-scoring single in the seventh. Mike Davis had a leadoff home run in a five-run eighth inning off Doug Sisk. Davis had been 2 for 16 before the home run.