Red Sox pitcher served papers - by Yankee fan?

We're used to pitchers being barraged with childish heckles by opposing fans before games - but being served with child support papers?

According to the New York Post, that's exactly what happened Tuesday at Fenway Park.

The newspaper says Red Sox pitcher Eric Bedard was on the receiving end of the papers hours before he was set to pitch against the Orioles. The messenger for Massachusetts Probate and Family Court? Diehard Yankees fan Tom Cabral.

"The Red Sox were very cooperative," Cabral told The Post. "They asked me if I could serve these tomorrow because he was starting tonight. My position was, my client wants it served today, and that's what I have to do."

Amazingly, Cabral had the audacity to wear a Bronx Bombers shirt while carrying out his legal duty in the shadow of the Green Monster. He told the newspaper that Bedard was unfazed.

"When I walked in I was like, I'm a Yankees fan, but I'm not trying to (give you a hard time)," Cabral said. "I told him that and said, sorry, I've got to do this. But he said it was no problem. I handed him the copies of all the documents and he signed them."

Cabral added that the Red Sox legal department was amused by the episode.

"They were saying, 'That's why you're so adamant about doing it today ... you're a Yankees fan.'"

According to the newspaper, Cabral served the papers on behalf of Bedard's ex-girlfriend Courtney Roberts, who had a daughter with the left-handed hurler. The Post says Roberts, who lives in Kentucky, is not accusing Bedard of not paying child support; she just wants the amount to increase as the pitcher's salary has ballooned since the initial agreement was reached.

In any event, the pre-game paper-serving may have been in Bedard's head when he took the mound later that night. Against the lowly Orioles, he gave up five hits and four runs in just 2 2/3 innings.