Jennings back 'in a zone' after returning from injury

ST. PETERSBURG -- Desmond Jennings, who nursed a groin problem over the weekend, looked back to full speed on Wednesday night.

The Rays' center fielder had three hits Wednesday and reached base four times for the first time since Sept. 18, 2013 against the Rangers.

"Des is playing really well," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "Des is playing a really good game of baseball. He's doing a lot of nice things. Attempting to bunt, bunting, running the bases extremely well. Playing good outfield. At-bats, he's not chasing.

"He's in a zone. He's hit the ball well in different moments."

Jennings had two stolen bases Wednesday night, giving the Rays their first multi-stolen base game by a Rays player since he did it last July 5 vs. the White Sox. The Rays went 97 games in between without a player recording two stolen bases.

In the decade from 2003-12, the Rays averaged a multi-stolen base game by a player once every 11.3 games and led Major League Baseball with 1,487 stolen bases.

Other than Jennings, the last Rays player to record two stolen bases was Sam Fuld on Aug. 13, 2012 at Seattle.