AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Homers Power Red Sox Victory

Mo Vaughn hit his career-high 30th home run and Tim Naehring added a three-run shot to lead the Red Sox to their 12th consecutive victory Monday night, 9-3, over the New York Yankees in Boston.

After giving up two runs in the first inning, Erik Hanson (11-4) retired 19 of the next 21 batters to extend Boston’s AL East lead over the second-place Yankees to 10 games.

The Red Sox’s streak is their longest since 1988, when they won 12 in a row and 19 of 20 after the All-Star break.

Hanson, who was signed in spring training from the Homestead, Fla., free-agent camp, retired 14 consecutive batters between the first and sixth innings. He finished with eight hits, struck out four and walked two before being lifted in the ninth.

New York made it 2-0 in the first on Paul O’Neill’s sacrifice fly and Darryl Strawberry’s single. But Boston tied it when John Valentin singled and Vaughn hit a Scott Kamieniecki pitch into Fenway Park’s left-field screen.

Seattle 6, Minnesota 2--Mike Blowers’ second grand slam of the season capped a five-run seventh inning as the Mariners won at Minneapolis.

Blowers is six for 11 with two homers and 17 RBIs in bases-loaded at-bats this season.

Andy Benes (2-0) gave up two runs over seven innings in his third start for Seattle.

Seattle broke it open in the seventh. With two out, Joey Cora was hit by a pitch and went to third on Warren Newson’s single that chased Mike Trombley. A single by Edgar Martinez off Pat Mahomes made it 2-2, and a walk to Jay Buhner loaded the bases for Blowers, who hit his 16th homer.

Seattle center fielder Ken Griffey Jr., sidelined because of a broken wrist, is expected to be in the starting lineup today.

Milwaukee 3, Detroit 2--Greg Vaughn and Dave Nilsson hit solo home runs and the Brewers held off the Tigers at Milwaukee.

After Tiger starter C.J. Nitkowski held the Brewers scoreless for six innings, Vaughn hit an 0-1 pitch from reliever Brian Maxcy (4-2) over the left-field wall to tie the game in the seventh.

After Vaughn’s 15th homer, Maxcy walked John Jaha and was relieved by Brian Bohanon. B.J. Surhoff lined a pitch off Bohanon’s left leg for a single, knocking Bohanon out of the game.

Pat Listach reached on a fielder’s choice, and Mike Matheny singled to load the bases. Jeff Cirillo’s sacrifice fly put Milwaukee ahead, 2-1.

Cleveland 9, Baltimore 6--Manny Ramirez singled in the go-ahead run in a three-run ninth inning as the Indians handed the fading Orioles their fifth consecutive loss.

It was the 19th time the Indians have won in their final at-bat.

Cal Ripken, playing in his 2,109th consecutive game, broke a 1-for-17 slump with a two-run single in the first inning.

Oakland 13, Kansas City 5--Rookie George Williams hit a grand slam off slumping reliever Billy Brewer to lift Steve Wojciechowski and the Athletics to victory at Kansas City.