1.   Bobby Cox countered with ace reliever John Rocker.

2.   But the ace reliever prevailed by causing all three to pop out while also earning his first save of the season.

3.   He acquired several high-profile players, including ace reliever Lee Smith in a deal he cited Tuesday as one of the biggest of his Boston career.

4.   It got a little dicey in the ninth, when LSU scored once off of ace reliever Jack Krawczyk and had the tying run on base.

5.   Mo Vaughn and Nomar Garciaparra were the first Red Sox to take the field in the top of the ninth inning, joining ace reliever Tom Gordon.

6.   The Red Sox ace turned temporary reliever chewed his gum and blew pink bubbles.

7.   Billy Wagner, ace reliever for the Houston Astros, was felled by a line drive to the head in the ninth inning Wednesday night.

8.   In the bottom of the eighth, Yano was hit in the back by a pitch thrown by ace reliever Hiromi Makihara, and Ookuma kicked Makihara.

9.   That was enough for ace reliever Mariano Rivera, and Anderson got a loss as tough as they come.

10.   They chanted, cheered and cajoled from the minute the tarp came off the field until ace reliever Mariano Rivera recorded the last out.