Vaughn Trying to Move On

Mo Vaughn will wake up in his North Easton, Mass., home this morning, make the familiar drive through Boston’s southern suburbs to Fenway Park this afternoon, walk into the stadium where he packed eight years of memories and somehow try to forget it all.

“I’m an Angel, I play for Anaheim now, I’m not thinking about the past,” said Vaughn, who hit .304 with 230 homers and 752 runs batted in for Boston from 1991 through ’98 before signing a six-year, $80-million contract with the Angels last November.

“I want to go there, get on with the game, and get on with my career. There’s nothing more to say about [Red Sox] management, to hell with the rest of that stuff.”

Tell that to the Boston media, a segment of which, no doubt, will be looking for Vaughn to rip Red Sox General Manager Dan Duquette and owner John Harrington, something Vaughn did freely during the winter and early spring but has grown tired of in recent weeks.

*

Right fielder Tim Salmon, who sprained his left wrist while trying to make a sliding catch Monday against Chicago, sat out his third consecutive game Thursday night and was sent to Detroit’s Henry Ford Hospital for a precautionary MRI test, the results of which will be available today. . . . Second baseman Randy Velarde, who had started every game this season, was scratched because of a stiff lower back and was replaced by Jeff Huson. . . . To activate starting pitcher Bryce Florie Thursday night, the Tigers designated reliever Mel Rojas for assignment. Rojas, acquired from the Dodgers along with pitcher Dave Mlicki on April 16, had a 22.74 ERA in five games for Detroit. . . . Angel catcher/designated hitter Todd Greene was successful in his bid to have his appeal for a three-game suspension moved from Tuesday to Thursday in New York. If the suspension, levied by the American League for charging the mound against Seattle April 18, is upheld, Greene will probably begin serving it that night.

ON DECK

* Opponent--Boston Red Sox, three games.

* Site--Fenway Park, Boston.

* Tonight--4 PDT.

* TV--Channel 9 today and Sunday.

* Radio--KLAC (570), XPRS (1090).

* Records--Angels 13-16, Red Sox 13-14.

* Record vs. Red Sox (1998)--6-5.

TONIGHT

ANGELS’ OMAR OLIVARES (3-2, 3.24 ERA)

vs.

RED SOX’S PEDRO MARTINEZ (5-1, 2.06 ERA)

* Update--Red Sox closer Tom Gordon, sidelined since April 18, threw 30-35 pitches off the mound Wednesday but reported stiffness in his right elbow, reducing the chances of his returning by this weekend. Boston catcher Scott Hatteberg is expected to return from an inflamed right elbow. Outfielder Darren Lewis dropped an appeal of his three-game suspension Wednesday and will finish serving it tonight.

* Saturday, 10 a.m.--Tim Belcher (1-2, 9.96) vs. Tim Wakefield (1-3, 8.02).

* Sunday, 10 a.m.--Ken Hill (1-1, 3.44) vs. Mark Portugal (2-1, 4.45).