Red Sox rookie Daniel Nava hits first pitch for grand slam | Baseball Notebook

BOSTON — Daniel Nava gave his parents a great home video.

Nava hit the first pitch he saw as a major-leaguer for a grand slam — only the second player to do it — leading the Boston Red Sox to a 10-2 rout of Philadelphia on Saturday.

Nava, just called up from AAA Pawtucket, connected on a fastball from Joe Blanton in the second inning. In 2006, Kevin Kouzmanoff hit a slam on the first pitch he saw for Cleveland.

Nava's parents watched from the Fenway Park stands, and his father caught the 27-year-old's first swing on a video camera.

"It's funny. They really hadn't seen me play in the last two years," Nava said. "They were in Indianapolis to watch me play on Friday and I told them I might be playing up here (Saturday)."

Undrafted out of college, Nava was the MVP of the independent Golden League in 2007 before signing with Boston.

Only four major-leaguers have hit slams in their first at-bat. Nava became the 10th to homer in his first at-bat for the Red Sox, and the second to hit a slam. Rip Repulski did it on May 10, 1960.

Cleveland eager for

Strasburg road debut

CLEVELAND — A city that knows something about budding superstars is eager for the arrival of Washington phenom Stephen Strasburg.

Fans fretting about basketball star LeBron James' possible departure from the Cleveland Cavaliers will get a brief diversion on Sunday when Strasburg pitches against the Indians.

"I watched him on TV on Tuesday night and he was incredible," said Lou Perrizone, who drove 85 miles from northwestern Ohio on Saturday to buy tickets a day early.

"Years from now, this ticket stub could be special — the first loss by a Hall of Famer."

The 21-year-old Strasburg, the first pick in the 2009 draft, struck out 14 over seven innings to beat Pittsburgh in his major league debut.

Cleveland expects its largest crowd since an opening-day sellout.

Notes

• Arizona RHP Brandon Webb, slow to recover from shoulder surgery, threw off a mound for the first time in three months. The former NL Cy Young Award winner has not pitched in a game since the season opener last year.

• Manager Tony La Russa said St. Louis expects to sign RHP Jeff Suppan next week. The 16-year major league veteran was released by Milwaukee Monday. Two Cardinals starters, Kyle Lohse and Brad Penny, are on the disabled list.

• Red Sox RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka missed his scheduled start and was placed on the 15-day DL with a strained forearm.

• Texas put RHP Rich Harden on the 15-day DL with a strained gluteus muscle.

• Tampa Bay put OF Gabe Kapler on the 15-day DL with a strained hip flexor.