Boone's homer delivers Indians

The third baseman broke a long slump to lead Cleveland to a 6-3 win.
CINCINNATI (AP) -- Aaron Boone had almost forgotten what it's like to hit a home run.
Boone emerged from a long slump Sunday with a tie-breaking, two-run homer in the eighth inning, sending the Cleveland Indians to a 6-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.
Boone's fourth homer off reliever David Weathers (3-3) provided a fitting final touch to a wild weekend series between the intrastate rivals. Fourteen homers were hit during the three games, including a pair of grand slams.
The decisive one was perhaps the least likely. Boone hadn't hit one since June 7, and was in a 4-for-42 slump overall that had him taking a lot of extra batting practice.
"I've been so not hitting homers this year. It felt good to get one," Boone said. "The last thing I want to do is because I haven't been hitting home runs, to go up there and try to."
Ben Broussard added a pinch-hit solo shot in the ninth off Cincinnati's bullpen, which has given up 42 homers this season, the most in the majors.
Bullpen digs in
A Cleveland bullpen that gave up five homers in the first two games finally dug in. Guillermo Mota (1-3) pitched the seventh inning in relief of C.C. Sabathia. Boone, playing third base, started a double play that scuttled a rally in the eighth.
Bob Wickman, who blew leads in his last two appearances, got the final three outs for his 12th save in 15 chances. He fanned pinch-hitter Ken Griffey Jr. on a slider with runners on first-and-third to end it.
Wickman gave up Adam Dunn's game-ending grand slam in the series opener, the only homer he has allowed all season. He followed the same pattern in pitching to Griffey.
"Same way I went at Dunn the night before," Wickman said. "I don't give up home runs. I don't believe people should elevate the ball."
Griffey, who had homered in five of the last six games, got a day of rest from the starting lineup, but wound up pinch-hitting for the second time this season.
"It doesn't bother me," he said. "If you don't want to be in that situation, you're in the wrong sport. We fell short, but I enjoy it -- but not too often. Maybe once or twice a year."
Split series
Ohio's two major league teams split their six-game season series, each taking two-of-three on the road. Cleveland leads the series overall, 26-19.
The Indians finished a 4-2 trip to St. Louis and Cincinnati that included back-to-back meltdowns in the ninth inning. They also traded first baseman Eduardo Perez, a function of their recent fade.
"We've definitely been playing better baseball," manager Eric Wedge said. "We should have been 6-0 on the trip. Hopefully this is a good start for us."
David Ross hit a pair of solo homers to lead Cincinnati, which finished a 3-3 homestand and fell to 20-22 at Great American Ball Park. Manager Jerry Narron was ejected for arguing after first base umpire Chris Guccione called Dunn out on a close play in the bottom of the eighth.
Hafner is out again
Travis Hafner was out of the Indians' starting lineup for the fourth consecutive game with a sore elbow. Hafner, who came off the bench and hit a grand slam in Cleveland's 12-7 victory on Saturday night, pinch-hit and flied out in the seventh.
After the teams combined for 36 runs in the first two frenetic games, starters Eric Milton and C.C. Sabathia made the offenses slow down on a sizzling afternoon.
Milton gave up three runs in six innings, including Ronnie Belliard's solo homer. The left-hander has given up six homers in his last three starts, one of the things preventing him from getting his first victory since June 6.
Sabathia also gave up three runs over six innings, including the two homers by Ross. Dunn drove in the other run with a single. Dunn has the same number of homers and singles this season -- 26 each.