BOSTON (AP) — Ace closer Jonathan Papelbon couldn’t save Boston’s season.

The intimidating right-hander hadn’t permitted a run in any of his 26 postseason innings before Sunday. But he gave up three in the ninth, allowing the Los Angeles Angels to come from behind for a 7-6 win and a sweep of their AL division series.

A grim ending for a pitcher who had 38 saves and a 1.85 ERA in the regular season. And a stunning finish to a Red Sox season that seemed headed for at least one more game Monday night.

They led 5-2 when Papelbon came in from the bullpen with two outs and runners at second and third in the eighth. Soon, it was 5-4 after Juan Rivera singled in two runs. Papelbon ended the inning by picking off pinch runner Reggie Willits.

Then he retired the first two batters in the ninth and had an 0-2 count on Erick Aybar. One more strike and there would be at least one more game.

But Papelbon never got another out.

“Your team fights. It puts you in that situation to call upon you and you let ’em down,” he said in a halting voice. “It’s a feeling that there’s a lot of weight on your shoulders because your team expects you to pull through and preserve that win for you and when you don’t its definitely not a good feeling.”

That feeling built quickly after Papelbon set down Maicer Izturis on a foulout and pinch hitter Gary Matthews Jr. on a fly ball.

Then Aybar singled and took second on defensive indifference. Chone Figgins walked. Bobby Abreu singled in a run. Torii Hunter was walked intentionally, loading the bases. Vladimir Guerrero lined a first-pitch fastball for a go-ahead, two-run single.

Papelbon threw 16 pitches, all fastballs, not counting the intentional walk.

His troubles began an inning earlier when he let two inherited runners score. Papelbon entered the game after Billy Wagner put runners at second and third. Rivera’s single cut the lead to a single run.

The bullpen, seemingly a big advantage for the Red Sox in the series, failed for them. Then again, Boston infielder Kevin Youkilis said, it didn’t matter what the prognosticators predicted.

“People that write that stuff are the same ones that pick the Cubs to win the World Series,” Youkilis said.

The Red Sox obtained Wagner in a trade with the New York Mets on Aug. 25 and he pitched very well down the stretch as a setup man rather than in his usual closer’s role.

Wagner would like another chance to close and may not return to the Red Sox after the offseason.

An offseason that began late Sunday afternoon when one of their most reliable pitchers finally gave up postseason runs.

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