The Tampa Bay Rays' Carlos Pena was scratched from the lineup for Game 2 of Friday's first-round playoff series against the Chicago White Sox because of slightly blurred vision in his left eye.

The slugger, who led the AL East champions with 31 homers and 102 RBIs this season, scratched his cornea at home Wednesday and was removed from Game 1 of the series after two innings on Thursday.

Pena fielded grounders and took batting practice Friday. Less than an hour before game time, the Rays announced he would not be in the lineup.

NO EXCUSES FOR ANGELS: Manager Mike Scioscia made no excuses for the Los Angeles Angels' playoff problems against the Boston Red Sox, who entered Friday's game having won the past 10 playoff games between the teams.

"They've played better baseball than we have in playoff environments head-to-head," Scioscia said. "In '04, they took it to us. Last year, they took it to us. They're a terrific club."

SEASONED SALTS: The Chicago Cubs' Lou Piniella has managed 3,262 regular-season games, and the Los Angeles Dodgers' Joe Torre has led 4,005. Combined, the skippers have the distinction of having the most managerial experience of opposing managers in the playoffs.

The previous high was 6,651 total games set by Tony La Russa and Jim Leyland in the 2006 World Series, according to Elias Sports Bureau.

FACING A DEFICIT: Milwaukee Brewers interim manager Dale Sveum has seen a team of his climb out of a hole bigger than 0-2. He was the third-base coach of the 2004 Red Sox, who overcame an 0-3 ALCS deficit to win eight straight games and win the franchise's first World Series in 86 years.

As his Brewers seek a way out of an 0-2 hole against the Philadelphia Phillies, Sveum said: "It can happen. ... Somebody sitting here right now that's gone through it."

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