By Gary Brooks
SportsLine Baseball Editor

Vaughn brings bat back to Fenway Friday

Red Sox fans will let the love flow as if it were Opening Day and Vaughn was still carrying his menacing bat in the Red Sox home whites and not the gray pinstripes of the Anaheim Angels.

Mo Vaughn returns to Fenway Friday.(AP)

Thats just a heavenly dream for Vaughn fans in Boston. Instead, they're stuck with this unusual reality: The Red Sox have a fine pitching staff -- one capable of playoff contention -- but have no power in this bash-happy game.

VAUGHN WAS HAPPY TO LEAVE the Boston organization and general manager Dan Duquette, but is still accepted as a Red Sox great by the Fenway fans.

Though he has $84 million reasons to be happy with Anaheim, Vaughn is far from satisfied. A severe ankle sprain cost him three weeks of April and the Angels are one of seven teams in the American League trying to get even in the win-loss column.

In the so-far mediocre AL West, Anaheim is certainly not in trouble but is looking for Vaughn to lead the way to the division lead and more.

VAUGHN HAS DRIVEN IN 10 runs in his first 36 at-bats, a ratio that would have him pushing past 150 RBI in a full season. But it's his intensity and leadership as much as run production the Angels are waiting to follow.

The Red Sox could use a similar lift to the lineup. But while Vaughn can still pick up a strong Angels offense, Boston is stuck with Troy O'Leary as the primary power source, at least until Nomar Garciaparra gets into a better groove. O'Leary is the only Red Sox player with more than two home runs. Garciaparra has yet to homer.

Other highlights

• Having been swept by the New York Mets, the surprising NL West-leading San Francisco Giants fell to 2-7 against teams with winning records. Statistics show the Giants should continue to hold onto the division lead this week, though, because they play the Pirates and Brewers. San Francisco is 14-3 against losing teams.

• As if the Cleveland Indians needed any more fuel for their batting cannon, they will see the Seattle Mariners and their struggling staff Wednesday and Thursday. And though Cleveland is scheduled to face Seattle's No. 1 and 2 starters, there is no reason to fret. Jeff Fassero and Jamie Moyer are a combined 1-7 with a 7.36 ERA. The Mariners' best pitcher has been rookie right-hander Freddy Garcia, who faces David Wells and the Blue Jays Monday with a chance to move to 4-0.

• Monday's exhibition between the Baltimore Orioles and the Cuban National Team could be a pivotal moment in the Orioles' season. And the on-field action won't have anything to do with it. Baltimore owner Peter Angelos didn't want to create a high-profile event before this anticipated and hyped game, but once it is passed, Angelos might be more likely to call for a switch in the manager's office.

• There are only six starters with a sub-2.00 ERA and they are involved in some intriguing matchups this week. Kansas City's Jose Rosado (1.72) is scheduled to face Orlando Hernandez Monday to finish up a four-game series between the Yankees and Royals. New York's David Cone (0.82) has a probable matchup with Minnesota ace Brad Radke Thursday. Cone has given up hits in only nine of the 33 innings he's pitched. John Snyder (1.88) of the White Sox faces Anaheim's collection of potent bats Monday. The best matchup should come Wednesday in Atlanta, where the probable matchup has John Smoltz (1.51) facing St. Louis right-hander Kent Bottenfield (1.53).

• A Dodgers victory against Montreal at Olympic Stadium Monday would be No. 1,000 for manager Davey Johnson.

• Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa used to be a potential 30-30 player. Last year, he showed he was a five-tool player by gaining some patience and knowledge at the plate, hitting for average as well as phenomenal power. But it appears as if the long ball has gotten the best of Sosa. After his 66-homer season, he said he wanted to bulk up and hit more home runs, driving in more runs from the No. 3 spot. The plan hasn't exactly worked out as Sosa struck out 29 times in the first 22 games, had stolen just three bases and was hitting .264. He has a chance to fatten up the numbers, both good and bad, against the Rockies' and Reds' pitching this week.

• Toronto left fielder Shannon Stewart is rapidly becoming one of the games finest young players. Stewart entered the week among the AL's top ten in batting (.366), steals (12), runs (24) and hits (37). He had three hits Sunday at Seattle, his league-best 12th multi-hit game.

• After seven shutout innings Sunday in Double-A, Hideo Nomo is expected to start Friday for the Milwaukee Brewers at San Francisco. He will be given a $250,000 contract.

• Among the most surprising performances of the first month has been that of Arizona outfielder Luis Gonzalez. He takes a 16-game hitting streak into Monday's game at Cincinnati.

• Monday, the Tigers will find out how long they'll lose their No. 1 pitcher, Brian Moehler. Moehler was ejected Saturday at Tampa Bay when it was discovered he was using sandpaper to doctor the baseball. He could receive enough of a suspension (10 games) to miss two starts.