Hafner belts record-setting fifth grand slam

0 Comments | AFP, July, 2006

CLEVELAND, United States (AFP) — Travis Hafner hit his fifth grand slam of the season and C.C. Sabathia pitched a three-hitter for his fourth career shutout as the Cleveland Indians posted a 9-0 rout of the Baltimore Orioles in the opener of a three-game series.

The Indians already led, 2-0, when Hafner created a cushion by lifting Orioles starter Kris Benson's first pitch over the right field wall for his 25th homer, emptying the bases.

Hafner's grand slams set a major league record for most before the all-star break and broke Al Rosen's 1951 franchise mark for grand slams in a season.

Hafner joined Ernie Banks (1955), Jim Gentile (1961) and Don Mattingly - who belted six slams in 1987 for the major league record - as the only players to hit at least five...