the season with a 3–0 record and a 2.73 ERA. On the four transitions between Calgary and Miami, Marlins assistant general manager Jim Fleming commented: "He went back and forth between clubs, and that's a tough way to pitch. But he's had a solid year." Neal began with the Marlins but spent much of the year with the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes after a rocky start in April in which his ERA ballooned to 8.38 in nine appearances. At Albuquerque Neal went 3–2 with a 2.33 ERA and 21 saves, but continued to struggle in the majors. On a return to the team in September his first pitch was hit into the stands in Veterans Stadium for a grand slam by Mike Lieberthal, and Neal finished the year with an 8.14 ERA. In an interview Neal acknowledged his difficulties: "I got off to a bad start and I panicked, and they panicked...I had a couple of opportunities, but I didn't take advantage." At the start of the season the Marlins traded Neal to the San Diego Padres for starter Ben Howard. In parts of three seasons with Florida Neal compiled a 3–0 record with an ERA of 5.57. San Diego Padres Neal arrived in the San Diego organization ready for a change of scenery; after a lackluster spring training with the Marlins, with whom he had to that point spent his entire professional career, he felt that he had little future there: "I wasn't throwing much toward the end of camp, and I knew I wasn't going to make the club." Assigned to the Portland Beavers, San Diego's Triple-A team, Neal regained his control and added a changeup to his pitching repertoire. The Padres called Neal up in June in place of Brandon Puffer. Manager Bruce Bochy praised Neal's turnaround in Portland: "[Neal] was throwing the ball well down there...He has a power arm." Neal remained with the Padres through the end of the season, appearing in 40 games with an ERA of 4.07. Although Neal enjoyed playing in San Diego, a rocky spring training contributed to his eventual departure. In competition with Steve Sparks and Randy Williams for a final spot in the bullpen, Neal posted a 6.43 ERA. With Neal out of options, the Padres risked losing him had they attempted to send him back to the minors, so they traded him to the Boston Red Sox for outfielder