Gagne was in the vortex of countless standing O's when he was running off a record 84 straight saves for the Dodgers. But he acknowledged this was one of the sweetest he's ever gotten while entering, not emerging from, the bullpen.
"Not surprised," he said. "I got more calls from friends in Montreal after the trade than I did when I won the Cy Young Award [in 2003]."
Neither was he surprised to see what Papelbon did in dispatching the Orioles in a 1-2-3 ninth, striking out the last two batters he faced, Aubrey Huff and Brian Roberts.
"We hadn't met before," Gagne said, "but I usually watch all the closers. He's amazing. He's lights out."
Papelbon, who had blown his previous save opportunity Saturday against the Devil Rays, was still stoked sitting on the sofa in the clubhouse after the game, his face pointing toward the television but his eyes unfocused. He didn't avail himself of the opportunity to discuss whether he wanted to make a positive first impression on Gagne; he didn't have to.
But before the game, he had some advice for Gagne. Not about adapting to the unfamiliar role of setup man, but about opening negotiations with Curt Schilling regarding ownership of the No. 38, which Gagne has worn his entire career but in Boston is worn on Schilling's back and on his web domain.
"Maybe he could buy him a watch," Papelbon said. "But with Schilling, he might have to buy him a Maserati or something."
Gagne, who just instructed equipment man Joe Cochran to reverse his number, laughed when Papelbon's suggestion was relayed. "Maserati? That's expensive," he said. "I think I'll just look at myself in the mirror.
"I'll never ask Schilling for anything. That's Curt Schilling."
With new Celtics acquisition Kevin Garnett, who was given Nomar Garciaparra's old No. 5 to wear when he threw out the ceremonial first pitch, wildly cheering from a private box, the Sox rallied from a 3-1 deficit with four runs in the seventh against a bullpen accustomed to springing such leaks.
