Hafner sets slam mark
Cleveland Indians designated hitter Travis Hafner became the first player in major league history to hit five grand slams before the All-Star break when he connected in the second inning against Baltimore on Friday night.
Hafner homered off Kris Benson to give the Indians a 6-0 lead on the way to a 9-0 win. It also broke the club record for grand slams in a season that Hafner shared with Al Rosen, who hit four in 1951.
The 29-year-old Hafner is the fourth player to hit five grand slams in a season. Don Mattingly of the New York Yankees set the major league record with six in 1987. Jim Gentile of the Baltimore Orioles (1961) and Ernie Banks of the Chicago Cubs (1955) both hit five.
Hafner, who was not selected to play in next week’s All-Star game in Pittsburgh despite being one of the finalists for the last spot on the A.L. roster, is 7 for 10 with five homers and 25 RBIs with the bases loaded this season. He is hitting .318 with 25 homers and 74 RBIs.
Cards demote Ponson
The St. Louis Cardinals designated right-hander Sidney Ponson for assignment.
Ponson started the season 3-0 but lost his last four decisions, including a 4-2 loss to Houston on Thursday night. He is 4-4 with a 5.24 ERA in 14 games, including 13 starts, this season.
The Cardinals have 10 days to trade, release or send Ponson outright to the minors.
Oswalt, Ordonez are All-Stars
Pitcher Roy Oswalt and Detroit outfielder Magglio Ordonez were added to the All-Star rosters, taking the place of injured Pedro Martinez and Manny Ramirez.
Ordonez will join Detroit teammates Ivan Rodriguez and Kenny Rogers at Tuesday night’s game at PNC Park in Pittsburgh. The surprising Tigers have the best record in the majors.
Ramirez, picked in fan voting to start in the A.L. outfield, has a sore right knee. Minus the Boston slugger, A.L. manager Ozzie Guillen said he hasn’t decided on how he will revamp his lineup.
Leftys headline home run derby
David Ortiz and Ryan Howard hope to make a big splash next week.
The lefty sluggers will take aim at the Allegheny River on Monday night, highlighting the eight-man field for the All-Star home run derby at PNC Park.
Former derby champ Miguel Tejada, Lance Berkman, Troy Glaus, Jermaine Dye, David Wright and Miguel Cabrera also will take part.
Ortiz has hit 29 home runs this season for Boston, tying him with Jim Thome of the Chicago White Sox for the major league lead. Last week in an interleague game at Pittsburgh, Thome hit a ball over the right-field wall that bounced into the Allegheny.
Howard has 28 home runs for Philadelphia, tied with Albert Pujols for the N.L. lead.
Surgery to end Gagne’s season
Eric Gagne will have season-ending surgery today to repair a herniated disc in his lower back, the latest injury to sideline the Los Angeles Dodgers’ All-Star closer.
The announcement was made about 3 1/2 hours before Friday night’s game against the San Francisco Giants. The 2003 N.L. Cy Young Award winner woke up with back pain Tuesday and received an epidural injection along with a nerve block and an MRI, neither of which produced the desired results.