Cordero Cheered as Red Sox Win, 18-4

Wilfredo Cordero had been booed every time he came to bat after having been accused of assaulting his wife June 11, but Monday night he found a way to make the home fans happy.

The Boston Red Sox outfielder was cheered after he hit a two-run homer that helped the Red Sox bang out a season-high 21 hits and rout the Detroit Tigers, 18-4.

Cordero, who did not comment after the game, had been booed on each of his previous 14 at-bats since he ended 11 games on the sideline with a pinch-hit appearance Thursday.

Every Boston starter had at least two hits, a run and a run batted in.

Boston took a 3-0 lead in the third on Darren Bragg’s double, Nomar Garciaparra’s triple and John Valentin’s single.

Jeff Frye hit a a two-run single in the fourth, and doubles by Mo Vaughn and Mike Stanley and a single by Reggie Jefferson gave Boston a 7-0 lead in the fifth.

“I don’t want to over-analyze this game. It was just a bad game,” said Detroit reliever A.J. Sager, who gave up eight runs and nine hits in one inning.

Said Detroit Manager Buddy Bell: “We’ll just try and forget this one. It started off bad and got progressively worse.”

Detroit finally broke through against Boston starter Jeff Suppan in the sixth on Tony Clark’s run-scoring double and Melvin Nieves’ three-run homer.

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NEXT SERIES FOR ANGELS

WHO: Detroit Tigers

WHERE: Anaheim Stadium

WHEN: Wednesday, 7:30 p.m., Thursday: 7 p.m.