ARLINGTON, Texas -- Kevin Kouzmanoff hit a grand slam on the
first pitch he saw in the majors only hours after the Cleveland Indians purchased his contract from Triple-A Buffalo on Saturday.
Kouzmanoff was the designated hitter in place of Travis Hafner,
who is out with a bruised right hand. Hafner has six grand slams
this season to tie a major league record.
With the bases loaded in the first inning, Kouzmanoff lined the
first pitch from Edinson Volquez over the center field wall to give
the Indians a 5-0 lead.
Kouzmanoff played for Buffalo and Double-A Akron this season,
combining to hit .379 with 22 homers and 75 RBI in 94 games.
"He's hit everywhere he's been," manager Eric Wedge said.
"We'll try to get him in there at first and at third. He's a third
baseman by trade. Today we've got a chance to get him in the lineup
at DH."