New role nothing new

When the bullpen door swung open at 11:48 Boston time Wednesday night, and Jonathan Papelbon emerged to safeguard a 2-1 lead, that moment represented yet another role change for the 25-year-old, who has routinely remade himself since 2000.

Consider: Papelbon was recruited to Mississippi State University as a first baseman. He was throwing the ball around the infield one day in 2000 when the team's pitching coach asked if he would like to pitch, to get some more playing time. (''Hell yeah," Papelbon responded.) He closed games his sophomore, junior, and senior seasons (2001-03). In the summer of 2003, for the short-season Lowell Spinners, the Red Sox organization introduced him to starting pitching. In 2004, he pitched in the Florida State League (Single A) and following the season hauled cases of beer to stay in shape and make some money. Last year, he started at Double A Portland, started and relieved at Triple A Pawtucket, and started and relieved in Boston.

His ERA in the summer of '03, as he learned the art of starting, was 6.34. His ERA since: 2.64 at Sarasota, 2.48 at Portland, 2.93 at Pawtucket, and 2.50 in parts of two seasons in Boston. He's 3-1 in the majors, and 1 for 1 in save situations.

''He's got the mentality for [closing]," said Josh Beckett, whom Papelbon saved a win for Wednesday. ''Anyone who throws 95 [miles per hour] with a hammer and a split can probably close some games out."

In three games this season, Curt Schilling and Beckett both have called out to the home plate umpire at the end of their outings, communicating something along the lines of ''thank you." Schilling makes a habit of it, while Beckett said he does not. But he said he felt compelled to thank Bruce Dreckman Wednesday night after the home plate ump checked with Ed Hickox at first on several checked swings. Beckett especially appreciated Dreckman checking on Michael Young's half-swing on Beckett's 109th pitch, to end the seventh inning and end Beckett's night.

''I just thought he did a good job, sticking with me," Beckett said. ''A lot of umpires will give up on you [when you throw] a lot of pitches. A couple times I asked him to check and it was the wrong time to check. I asked him to check that time, and it was the right time."

The Sox didn't make an error in Texas, beginning the season with three errorless games for the first time since 1993. That year they made an error in their fourth game. They have not begun a year with four errorless games since 1962, when the streak ended in the fifth game (and the second of a doubleheader, on a miscue by third baseman Frank Malzone) . . . So far so good atop the Sox' lineup. Coco Crisp (5 for 14, four runs) and Mark Loretta (5 for 13) are hitting a combined .370 (10 for 27) with five runs, though just one walk . . . The first base spot, through three games, has generated one hit (a Kevin Youkilis double) in 12 at-bats.