Boston Red Sox veteran starter Julian Tavarez can be quite temperamental, but there's something about spring training that brings out everybody's good-natured side.

In the third inning yesterday, Orioles third baseman Melvin Mora hit a long shot over the left-field wall off Tavarez. Mora was halfway to second when he realized the ball was called foul. On Mora's way back to the batter's box, Tavarez smacked the Oriole on the helmet with his glove.

Later, Tavarez doffed his cap to the capacity crowd after getting yanked from the game. It was an unusual gesture considering he had just given up three straight run-scoring hits in 2 2/3 innings.