maxing out

You have to love Jonathan Papelbon's intensity. The ex-Mississippi State star holds nothing back. From his pre-pitch scowl to his postgame commentary, he is all in all the time. After working 2 1/3 scoreless innings in Boston's gut-grinding, 14-inning win at New York late Sunday night, Papelbon, defying the baseball gods, declared the Red Sox's epic September swoon over. "Now we roll," he said. Well ... the BoSox lost the next night and fell into a tie for the American League wild card lead with Tampa Bay. On Tuesday night, Papelbon nailed down his 31st save (in 33 opportunities) in an 8-7 win over Baltimore; he gave up a couple of hits and a run but got the job done. "Only the strong will survive," Papelbon told reporters after the game. "The weak will fall by the wayside." Boston faces another pressure-packed game at Baltimore tonight, still tied with the Rays on the last day of the regular season. If he's needed — and fate says he will be — Papelbon will tromp out there, breathing fire.