Tampa Bay 1B breaks two fingers

NEW YORK, Sept. 7 (UPI) -- Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Carlos Pena will miss the rest of the 2009 season after breaking two fingers Monday in a 4-1 loss to the Yankees.

Pena tried to check his swing on a pitch while batting in the first inning but the ball hit his bat and left hand simultaneously. The umpires eventually ruled it a foul ball and he struck out on the next pitch.

Pena did not take the field in the bottom of the first, as Willy Aybar took his place.

He will be flown back to Tampa Tuesday for further examination. X-rays at the stadium revealed a fracture of his left index and middle fingers.

Pena, 31, will be placed on the disabled list. He finished the season hitting only .227, but he has an AL-best 39 homers and his 100 RBI are third-best in the AL behind Mark Teixeira (106) and Rays' team Evan Longoria (102).