Angels Draw Blank in Boston

BOSTON — Just like Roger Clemens’ emotional return to Fenway Park in 1997, Angel slugger Mo Vaughn’s New England homecoming turned into an event Friday night--for Vaughn before the game and Boston Red Sox right-hander Pedro Martinez during it.

The Red Sox ace turned Vaughn into an afterthought, spoiling his Fenway return with a career-high 15 strikeouts as Boston breezed to a 6-0 victory before a sellout crowd of 32,220.

Vaughn, who signed a six-year, $80-million deal with the Angels last winter, received a standing ovation in his first at-bat, but the cheers seemed to be mixed with more boos every time Vaughn came to the plate.

Vaughn expected that. What he couldn’t anticipate was some of the emotions he would feel upon returning to the place he called home for eight years.

“I’m sitting out there looking at guys I came up with and won some games with--that was the sad part,” said Vaughn, who was hitless in four at-bats and struck out twice. “But I had to move on, that’s the way I look at it. I’m glad we got through this, I’m glad it’s over.”

And the Angels are glad they won’t have to face Martinez any time soon. Mixing his 95-mph fastball with one of baseball’s most devastating changeups, Martinez dominated the hapless Angels, giving up six hits and no walks.

The Angels, losers of five of seven games, have eight runs and 31 hits in their last five games, and things are going so bad that even when they cross the plate they can’t score.

Their only threat Friday came in the fourth inning when Matt Walbeck singled and Vaughn reached on an error. Troy Glaus singled to center, and Walbeck beat Damon Buford’s throw to the plate.

But Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek blocked the plate with his left foot, and Walbeck slid into his foot. Walbeck’s front leg popped into the air and his momentum carried him past the plate. As Walbeck got up and looked for the call, Varitek tagged him out.

The Red Sox scored twice in the third, sixth and seventh innings, giving Vaughn no chance to duplicate the heroics that made him a fan favorite in Boston, but Vaughn was certainly the story until the first pitch.

About three hours before the game, he got a surprise visit from Red Sox owner John Harrington, who rarely ventures onto the field or into the clubhouse.

It was a bold move on Harrington’s part, considering Vaughn referred to Harrington and General Manager Dan Duquette as “the Joint Chiefs of Staff” during his bitter contract dispute with the Red Sox.

“It was good for him to speak to me, man to man,” Vaughn said. “He didn’t have to do that. He said he hoped I was happy and that it was good to see me back here.”

When he emerged from the dugout for a pregame stretch, Vaughn was greeted by some 50-60 media members.

“I’ve got no animosity toward the Red Sox--we all made our decisions, and we’re all pretty happy,” he said. “I’m not here to show anyone up or make anyone look bad.”

From the time the informal news conference broke up to the time he took infield practice, Fenway Park seemed to be tilted toward Vaughn. Like marbles on a slanted table, television cameramen and photographers followed Vaughn everywhere.

He exchanged hugs with former teammates John Valentin and Nomar Garciaparra.

During batting practice, he cozied up to Craig Williams, a 15-year-old from Marblehead, Mass., who had surgery for brain cancer four years ago. Vaughn and then-Boston Celtic players Rick Fox and Eric Montross raised $70,000 for Williams’ operation, and his cancer is in remission today.

“If it wasn’t for Mo,” Williams said, “I wouldn’t be here today.”

Angel Manager Terry Collins thought the hoopla was a distraction, “but it’s fun, it’s part of the game. You guys have been to the big events--the World Series, the All-Star Game--it’s still show business, entertainment, and one of the big stars is coming back.”

The Red Sox have struggled in Vaughn’s absence--they’re lacking a dominant clubhouse presence and still have not come from behind to win a game--but no one in their clubhouse felt betrayed.

“Mo didn’t desert us,” reliever Jim Corsi said. “The fans may feel that way, but that’s the business. Didn’t he get The Godfather of contracts, an offer he couldn’t refuse? It’s part of the game. It happens all the time.”