Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Daniel Nava went 2-for-4 and hit a grand slam in his first major-league at-bat as Boston once again pounded Philadelphia, 10-2, in the middle test of a three-game interleague set from Fenway Park.
Daniel Nava’s Historic Grand Slam Keys Boston Rout Of Philadelphia
Nava joined three other players in baseball history to clear the bases with a home run in their first big-league plate appearance, and became just the second player ever to hit one on the first pitch -- joining Kevin Kouzmanoff when he did it for Oakland on September 2, 2006.
J.D. Drew homered and drove in two runs and Marco Scutaro also drove in a pair for the Red Sox, who have won the first two games in the series by a combined 22-4 score and have taken four of six overall.
Manny Delcarmen (2-2) allowed one hit in two scoreless relief innings for the win.
Scott Atchison allowed two hits and two runs in three full frames. He started in place of Daisuke Matsuzaka, who was a late scratch after being placed on the 15-day disabled list with a right forearm strain.
"On a day when it starts out that you lose your starting pitcher, got a young kid who's never played a day in the major leagues, this is probably something that only happens in Boston," said Red Sox manager Terry Francona of the odd circumstances that framed the win.
Brian Schneider went 3-for-4 with a two-run double for the Phillies, who skidded to their third straight defeat and fifth in six games.
Joe Blanton (1-5) was scorched in the loss for a season-worst 13 hits and nine runs over four innings, fanning four with one walk.
"Our offense has been struggling, like it's been said for a while," noted Phillies manager Charlie Manuel. "When you give a team eight and nine runs early, that's kinda hard to overcome."
Philly got on the board in the second. Ben Francisco was plunked to start the inning and Raul Ibanez singled. Both men advanced on a Greg Dobbs sacrifice, then scored when Schneider placed a ball inside the bag at third for a two-run double.
Drew led off the home second with a homer inside the Pesky Pole in right field, then Adrian Beltre singled, Jason Varitek reached on a bunt to third and Darnell McDonald singled.
Nava brought them all in on his first career blast, a grand slam on Blanton’s first pitch which sailed into the bullpen in right for a 5-2 game.
”In that situation with the bases loaded, I was just looking for something to drive, Nava said of his memorable at-bat. “I wasn’t sitting on any pitch. Fortunately, he threw me a fastball. It wasn’t until I rounded the bases that I was like ‘I just hit a grand slam’ and so that’s why I was sprinting the whole time. I was so pumped for the moment.”
Nava came up with the sacks full again in the third but struck out on a check swing. Scutaro followed with a two-run single and Dustin Pedroia knocked in another for an 8-2 score.
Kevin Youkilis singled to start the fourth and Drew's looping double to left knocked him in.
In the sixth, Varitek grounded into a double play with the bases loaded to push across Boston’s 10th run.
The Phils had runners on first and third with one out in the ninth facing Jonathan Papelbon, but Schneider flew out and pinch-hitter Ross Gload struck out swinging to end the contest.
Boston improved to 4-1 against Philadelphia in interleague play this season...Every Red Sox starter collected at least one hit...To complete the Matsuzaka move, the Sox recalled pitcher Dustin Richardson from Triple-A Pawtucket...Nava was recalled from Pawtucket when outfielder Josh Reddick was optioned to the PawSox prior to the contest...Rip Repulski was the only other Boston player to hit a grand slam in his first pro at-bat, on May 10, 1960...Bill Duggleby and Jeremy Hermida are the other two MLB players to hit a grand slam in their initial MLB plate appearance.
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