BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE MAJOR LEAGUES : Mo Vaughn Assaulted, Misses Game

Mo Vaughn, the major leagues’ leader in home runs and runs batted in, suffered a bruised left eye when he was assaulted at a nightclub, the Boston Red Sox said. He missed his first game of the year Friday night against Texas.

Red Sox Manager Kevin Kennedy said the incident occurred as Vaughn was defending his girlfriend at the club after Thursday night’s 9-8 loss to the Rangers.

The team said the unidentified girlfriend also was assaulted. Kennedy said no teammates were with Vaughn.

Kennedy met with Vaughn early Friday afternoon and sent him home but thought he might be able to play today.

*

The Cleveland Indians released veteran left-hander Bud Black and called up right-hander Albie Lopez from triple-A Buffalo. Black was 4-2 with a 6.85 ERA in 10 starts for the Indians. His last start was July 4 when he gave up four runs and seven hits over 3 2/3 innings in a no-decision against Texas. Black pitched in relief on July 9 against Seattle and gave up three hits and four runs in two innings.

*

The Kansas City Royals waived veteran second baseman Jose Lind for the purpose of giving him his unconditional release. Lind had been on the disqualified list after leaving the team to return to his home in Puerto Rico because of apparent family problems. The 31-year-old Lind hit .268 with six RBI in 29 games this season, his third with the Royals.

*

The St. Louis Cardinals put right-hander Mike Morgan on the 15-day disabled list because of a strained left hamstring and activated left-hander Donovan Osborne. Morgan (4-3, 2.58 ERA) is the 14th Cardinal player to go on the disabled list this season. He was acquired from Chicago last month for Todd Zeile. Osborne (0-1, 4.09 ERA), who went on the disabled list May 15 with a sore left elbow, will take Morgan’s spot in the rotation. He is scheduled to start Sunday in Pittsburgh.

*

Milwaukee Brewer catcher Joe Oliver was put on the 15-day disabled list because of a broken bone in his left wrist. The team didn’t make an immediate roster move to replace Oliver, who was among the team’s leading hitters with a .292 average, nine homers, 17 doubles and 34 RBI in 63 games. Oliver, who was struck by an errant slider from Chicago pitcher Jose DeLeon Thursday night, is expected to be out for up to six weeks.

*

Left-handed reliever Norm Charlton, who was released Monday by Philadelphia, signed a major-league contract for the remainder of the season with the Seattle Mariners.

*

The prospective buyers of the Oakland Athletics have been granted another extension on their deadline to finalize the deal. The Athletics’ current owner, the Haas family, said the $85 million deal with Steven Schott and Kenneth Hofmann was scheduled to be finalized during the spring, but it has been extended. The date of the extension wasn’t disclosed.