Closer's availability played close to vest

By Gordon Edes, Globe Staff  |  April 21, 2007

Red Sox manager Terry Francona had no interest in tipping his hand to Yankees counterpart Joe Torre last night about whether Jonathan Papelbon would be available to close after back-to-back appearances in Toronto.

"If you see him pitch, he's available," Francona said yesterday afternoon.

"Joe's already a good manager. He doesn't need to know five hours in advance who's going to close our game for us. He's good. They don't need help."

Papelbon said he expected it to be a "last-minute decision" by Francona whether he would get used, but conceded he would not be surprised if Francona gave him the night off.

"If he wants to give me the ball, I'll take it," Papelbon said. "It's not going to be an easy decision. He wants to put me in. I know he does, but it's still early. I'd rather be able to pitch in every postseason game.

"If Tito doesn't give me the call, it's going to suck, but I'm also going to understand. If you see me, that means I'm ready to go. If you don't, I'm not ready to go."

Despite the Sox scoring five runs in the eighth inning for a 7-6 lead, Papelbon wasn't brought on for the ninth, Francona instead going with lefthander Hideki Okajima, who pitched a scoreless inning for his first major league save.

Papelbon had said assistant trainer Mike Reinold also would have considerable input on his availability. Reinold runs Papelbon through a daily regimen of strength exercises to test his rotator cuff and pitching elbow, among other things.

Papelbon has made five appearances. He pitched in the third game of the season, against the Royals, three days later in Texas, and then was off four days before pitching April 13 at home against the Angels. He didn't pitch again until Wednesday in Toronto, when he threw 21 pitches in a three-out save, then came back the next day with a 26-pitch save that ended with a grinding 10-pitch showdown against Alex Rios.

Papelbon threw in three consecutive games four times last season -- twice in May, once in July, and the last time Aug. 30 and 31, and Sept. 1, the night he walked off the mound in Fenway Park clutching his right shoulder.

Kyle Snyder admitted he thinks about what decision the Sox will make regarding lefthander Jon Lester, and how it will impact Snyder's status. Lester pitched last night for Single A Greenville against Savannah in the South Atlantic League and was touched for three runs on six hits, including two home runs, in five innings.

Lester, who did not walk a batter and struck out five, is scheduled to be in Boston tomorrow to meet with the Sox' staff, then is slated to pitch for Pawtucket Wednesday, the last start of a 30-day rehabilitation assignment. The guess is the Sox will option Lester to Pawtucket for an indefinite period before promoting him to the big leagues.

"He's an established major league pitcher, even though last year was his first year," Snyder said of Lester. "No question, I think about it. That's just the name of the game. I just try to stay focused, stay fresh, and hopefully I'll have opportunities to get in and do my part."

Snyder got the win last night by getting two outs in the eighth, with a strikeout and a walk.

Yesterday was the 95th anniversary of the first game played at Fenway, the Sox winning, 7-6, in 11 innings over the New York Highlanders, the forebears of the Yankees . . . With all 16 Celtics championship banners draped over the Green Monster, Bob Cousy threw out the ceremonial first pitch as the Sox honored the Celtics -- and the late Red Auerbach -- for the 50th anniversary of their first NBA title . . . Kevin Youkilis passed out Virginia Tech caps to teammates, which came courtesy of Hokies assistant baseball coach Mike Gambino, a former Sox minor leaguer and Boston College captain, and a Youkilis pal. The Sox had permission from Major League Baseball to wear a black VT on their left sleeves last night. The idea, according to team spokesman John Blake, came from Francona and Jason Varitek . . . Yankees catcher Jorge Posada left in the bottom of the fourth with an injured left thumb. X-rays were negative, and the injury, which occurred while trying to catch a pitch from starter Andy Pettitte, according to a Yankees spokesman, was announced as a bruise. Posada, who doubled in the top of the fourth to extend his hitting streak to 10 games, was replaced by Wil Nieves . . . Yankees outfielder Hideki Matsui went 1 for 3 for Single A Tampa in his first rehab assignment as he works his way back from a strained left hamstring. Matsui is expected to be activated from the disabled list Monday . . . Josh Beckett, who seeks his fourth straight win today , is one of three Sox pitchers to win his first three games while holding the opposition to a run in each start while striking out at least five. The others were Babe Ruth in 1916 and Roger Clemens in 1991 . . . Varitek's homer was his first since Sept. 8, a span of 90 at-bats. The longest homerless streak on the Sox? The 215 at-bats Julio Lugo has gone without one . . . Former Angels shortstop and Billerica native Gary DiSarcina was named manager of the Lowell Spinners, the Sox' Single A affiliate in the New York-Penn League.