THREE UP
Kevin Kouzmanoff hit a grand slam on the first pitch he saw in the majors off the Rangers’ Edinson Volquez only hours after the Indians purchased his contract from Triple-A Buffalo. Kouzmanoff was the designated hitter in place of Travis Hafner, out with a bruised right hand.
Blue Jays oft-injured starter A.J. Burnett, who held the Red Sox to three hits Saturday in a 5-1 complete-game win, said he gets better by watching teammate Roy Halladay work. “You learn a lot from [Halladay], just watching him go after guys,” Burnett said.
The Nationals, by rallying past the Diamondbacks in the first game Saturday, picked up the first back-to-back wins in franchise history when trailing by two or more runs entering the ninth. “It feels good to win two games of any kind,” manager Frank Robinson said.
THREE DOWN
Jim Edmonds, who missed his 12th start in 13 games Saturday due to post-concussion syndrome, won’t accompany the Cardinals on their upcoming seven-game trip. “When I try to do a lot, it gets worse,” said the center fielder, who has ceased baseball activities for now.
Arthur Rhodes, filling in for injured closer Tom Gordon, blew his second straight save opportunity Saturday for the Phillies. Rhodes, who allowed the Braves to rally in the ninth, also wasted a two-run lead in the ninth inning of Thursday night’s loss to the Nationals.
Right-hander Livan Hernandez dropped to 1-4 since being acquired Aug. 7 by Arizona from the Nationals when he gave up four runs and 11 hits in 7 2/3 innings of Saturday’s 4-3 loss to his former teammates. He struck out seven but also walked one and hit a batter.
