Rays' Carlos Pena homers in 6th straight game

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Tampa Bay's Carlos Pena has homered for the sixth consecutive game, hitting a solo shot in the first inning of Saturday's night game against the Florida Marlins.

Pena became the first player to homer in six straight games since Frank Thomas did it for Oakland Sept. 5-11, 2006. Pena has seven homers during the streak, giving him 15 this season and an AL-leading 131 since joining the Rays in 2007 — four more than Alex Rodriguez.

Pena connected off Marlins right-hander Ricky Nolasco as he continues to emerge from a season-long slump. He began the night batting .196.

(This version CORRECTS APNewsNow. corrects to 2006 in 2nd graf.)