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But after a spell in extended spring training and only two games with the Buffalo Bisons, Pena may soon find himself in the Big Apple.

Ironically, Friday night’s game against the Louisville Bats might not have much to do with it, despite Pena’s accounting for all of the Bisons’ scoring with a three-run homer in a 4-3 loss. The second game of the scheduled doubleheader was postponed by rain.

Pena historically doesn’t stick around at Triple-A. He’s been at the minors’ highest level five times in the last seven seasons, but has logged only 36 games in those stints.

“My lawyer said (to expect) a month and a half or two months here,” said Pena, who was released by the Washington Nationals during spring training. “I came here to help the team. When they need me up there, I’ll be ready.”

His expected callup might happen within hours, as Mets first baseman Carlos Delgado is having problems with his right hip, hasn’t played since Sunday and could be placed on the disabled list as early as Saturday.

“I don’t know,” laughed Pena. “Now I have to play first base here. If something happens, I have to be ready to help the team when they call me.”

Wednesday at Rochester, Pena went 2-for-4 in his first game as a Bison. Friday, he came up empty in his first two plate appearances, both times failing to advance runners. In the fifth inning, he made his third at-bat pay off, going the opposite way and launching a 1-0 pitch off Louisville starter Matt Maloney.

The longball gave Buffalo a 3-1 lead and Pena his first Triple-A homer since 2006 with Pawtucket.

“He was throwing outside the whole night,” Pena said. “I knew I had to take it the other way. It paid off the third time up.”

The Bisons, however, couldn’t make the lead hold up Carlos Muniz imploded while trying to notch the club’s first save this season. The reliever allowed hits to the first three batters in the inning and had the tying run come across on the first of his two wild pitches. The winning run eventually scored on a sacrifice fly by Chris Valaika.

Starter Jonathan Niese finally came around, striking out eight batters in six innings and allowing only three hits and a walk. He threw 81 pitches, 60 for strikes. He avoided trouble in the fourth inning and allowed only one run when he faced a bases-loaded situation with none out.

“It’s terrible for Jon,” said Bisons manager Ken Oberkfell. “When Wily Mo hits a three-run homer, I thought this could be the night. Unfortunately Muniz couldn’t get it done.”

Buffalo got the first two runners on in the bottom of the seventh, but Pena and Mike Lamb each swung at the first pitch and fouled out. Cory Sullivan worked the count against Bats closer Josh Roenicke, but also fouled out to end the game.

“We had the right guys coming up,” Oberkfell said. “You get a pitch to hit, swing at it. They had good swings, but just popped it up.”

………

Even though a regulation game was played, the Bisons offered ticketholders rain checks for another game during May. The club had to cancel its traditional Friday night fireworks show, and the exchange is a goodwill gesture for fans who expected to see post-game pyrotechnics.

The rained out game will be part of a Saturday doubleheader, with each game being a seven-inning affair.

………

With the loss, the Bisons record fell to 2-17. The Herd’s 10 hits were their most since getting 10 safeties against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on April 15.

It marked only the third time all year that Buffalo has notched double-figures in the hit column.

………

Infielder Andy Green left the game after breaking his left thumb during a slide into first base on an infield grounder. He tried to beat the throw of first baseman Kevin Barker with Maloney covering the base in the third inning.

Green dislocated his pinky finger on the play, and had that realigned before taking the field for the fourth. It was only after he returned to the dugout that he realized his bigger problem was four fingers over.

He is scheduled to have surgery sometime next week after seeing a hand specialist in New York. Green believes he will be sidelined somewhere between four and six weeks.

………

Tim Redding, a righthander who signed as a free agent this past off-season by the Mets, is slated to pitch for the Bisons on Tuesday at Lehigh Valley.

Redding, who made 33 starts last year for the Washington Nationals, is currently disabled with shoulder tendonitis. He began experiencing shoulder problems during a throwing regimen while coming back from a stress fracture of a toe. The rehab appearance with the Bisons is expected to set the stage for his being activated in New York.