Red Sox Acquire Relief Ace Aguilera

American League

Rick Aguilera, one of baseball’s best relievers in the 1990s, was traded Thursday night from the Minnesota Twins to the Boston Red Sox for a couple of prospects.

His agent, Tom Selakovich, said the trade was prompted by Aguilera’s pending change of status. At midnight EDT, he was to become a 10-and-5 player - 10 years in the majors, the last five with the same team - which would give him the right to approve any trade.

Boston, leading the A.L. East, had a big hole in its bullpen.

The Twins received pitcher Frankie Rodriguez, 22, a former second-round draft pick and one player to be named.

Aguilera declined comment before the game, but he has said often he wants to stay in Minnesota.

Twins 6, Red Sox 4

Minneapolis

Dave Stevens took over the Twins’ closer role by recording his first career save.

Stevens got the last out of the game for the first save this season by a Twins pitcher other than Aguilera.

Angels 10, Blue Jays 1

Anaheim, Calif.

Rex Hudler scored twice on wild pitches and another time on a bases-loaded walk, and California took advantage of Toronto’s ragged staff.

The Blue Jays have the second-worst ERA in the majors, better only than Minnesota.

Orioles 2, White Sox 1

Chicago

Pinch-hitter Kevin Bass’ run-scoring single in the eighth inning lifted Baltimore.

Bass, a switch-hitter, changed to the left side - where he was hitting .277, compared to .328 from the right - to hit against Jose DeLeon. He singled to center, scoring Manny Alexander, but Cal Ripken overran second and was out.

Tigers 12, Royals 5

Detroit

Cecil Fielder and Chad Curtis hit two-run homers and Detroit defeated Kansas City for its eighth straight home win.

Six straight singles started a five-run seventh for the Tigers, highlighted by Fielder’s single - which drove in his 50th run of the season.

Brewers 5, Athletics 2

Oakland, Calif.

B.J. Surhoff hit a threerun double in the sixth and rookie Scott Karl earned his first major-league victory as Milwaukee beat Oakland.

Oakland manager Tony La Russa was ejected by umpire Larry Barnett after Joe Oliver’s double, apparently for arguing strike calls.

Rangers 5, Yankees 2

Arlington, Texas

Juan Gonzalez and Mickey Tettleton hit consecutive home runs in the first inning and Ivan Rodriguez later hit a tworun shot to lead Texas,

Gonzalez hit a two-run homer, his 150th for the Rangers, moving him past Larry Parrish and into second place on the team’s career list. Gonzalez’s 435-foot homer was his 10th in 31 games this season.

Clearing the bases

The Tigers have scored 62 runs in their last seven games… . A smattering of fans showed up at the press gate to the Oakland Coliseum complex to greet Al Davis, the owner of the NFL’s Raiders. Davis was in Oakland for a news conference to address the Raiders’ move from L.A.

Ripken entered Thursday night’s game with a .166 batting average in new Comiskey Park, his lowest average anywhere.