AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Vaughn’s Latest Slam Is Grand for Red Sox

Mo Vaughn has a way with grand slams.

And the Boston Red Sox had their way with the Tigers as Vaughn’s third bases-loaded homer of the season powered Tim Wakefield’s 12th victory while spoiling C.J. Nitkowski’s AL debut Thursday with a 10-2 rain-delayed victory at Detroit.

Mike Macfarlane homered and Mike Greenwell hit a two-run double for Boston, helping Wakefield win his eighth consecutive start.

Wakefield (12-1) allowed two runs and four hits in 5 2/3 innings. His league-leading earned-run average rose to 1.66.

Nitkowski (0-1), obtained by Detroit in the trade that sent all-star David Wells to Cincinnati, lasted only 1 2/3 innings, giving up five runs on six hits.

Cleveland 6, Minnesota 4--Carlos Baerga homered, drove in two runs and scored twice, and Ken Hill got his first AL victory as the Indians won at Cleveland.

Jose Mesa, Cleveland’s third pitcher, got his major league-leading 30th save in as many chances.

Oakland 5, Texas 3--Mark McGwire hit his 25th and 26th homers a day after coming off the disabled list as the Athletics homered on three of their four hits at Oakland.

Ariel Prieto (2-4), a Cuban emigre who was the A’s top pick in the June amateur draft, gave up two runs and five hits in 6 2/3 innings. Dennis Eckersley pitched the ninth inning for his 21st save.

New York 5, Milwaukee 4--Stymied by Ricky Bones for seven innings, the Yankees rallied for four eighth-inning runs against the Brewer bullpen at New York.

David Cone (11-6), making his Yankee Stadium debut for New York, won his second consecutive decision since being acquired from Toronto last week. John Wetteland earned his 19th save.

Toronto 8, Baltimore 2--Mike Huff scored the go-ahead run in the 10th inning after a quirky steal of third base, and Ed Sprague capped the six-run uprising with a homer in the Blue Jays’ rout at Baltimore.

Huff had stolen third when Baltimore third baseman Jeff Huson went to the mound to talk to Jesse Orosco, apparently without calling time out. Huff scored on Domingo Cedeno’s grounder.

Ricardo Jordan pitched two scoreless innings of relief to earn his first major league victory.

Kansas City 9, Chicago 0--Melvin Bunch (1-2) earned his first major league victory at Chicago and Gary Gaetti homered and drove in four runs as the Royals beat the White Sox.