"The Red Sox led the Mets, 8-1, yesterday in the top of the ninth inning. Jonathan Papelbon had two outs and a runner on first base.

The green-clad fans were walking (some unsteadily) for the exits at City of Palms Park, a successful celebration of St. Patrick's Day in their wake.

Then came a walk. Then another walk, followed by a three-run double. Then another double and suddenly Papelbon had been pulled from a game for the second time in a week.

The four-run outburst left Papelbon with an unseemly 12.60 earned run average in six games this spring, all of the damage coming in two games."