Manager Joe Torre had called for him with a seven-run lead and a runner on first in the eighth.

His departure in the sixth inning, after the Royals had taken a seven-run lead, drew loud boos from the crowd of 43,606 at the Stadium.

Nor do they steal bases or bunt with seven-run leads.

You give Leiter a seven-run lead in two innings and he's a good pitcher and he's going to shut us down.

Had they lost a game that was virtually theirs - what could be more secure than a seven-run lead?

Piazza was back behind the plate tonight, smashing two home runs to help the Mets build a seven-run lead over the Rockies after five innings.

The first two games ended early when the mercy rule - a seven-run lead after five innings - took effect.

"Don't we have someone around here who can hold a seven-run lead?"

Bernie Williams and Rondell White each knocked in two runs as the Yankees rushed to a seven-run lead after four innings.

"But obviously, when Pedro's got a seven-run lead, it's a tough little hole to come out of."