Papelbon adds to savings account
His team-record 133d in the bank
BALTIMORE - Jonathan Papelbon, off the top of his head, doesn’t know the precise contents of the trophy case he keeps at home. The case displays the baseballs he used to notch milestones, the tokens of his increasingly historic career. He does not know how many. “I got a bunch of them, man,’’ Papelbon said.
Papelbon tossed two more balls into his suitcase, the one he carries on to the Red Sox team charter, because he wanted to make certain they arrive safely in Boston.
The balls will move into his case alongside the others, the most recent earned yesterday in a thrilling 6-5 win. With a perfect 11th inning, Papelbon redeemed his second blown save of the season Tuesday and, two games after tying him, passed Bob Stanley for first place in Red Sox history with his 133d save.
“It feels good,’’ Papelbon said. “When I set out to do this, to be the closer of the Boston Red Sox, there were a lot of goals in sight. And this was one of them. To finally get there and kind of get it out of my head is good for me. All right, that’s done. Let’s move on.’’
Papelbon thanked bullpen coach Gary Tuck and pitching coach John Farrell for pushing him and working with him. He thanked the relievers who set him up over the past four years. And he thanked general manager Theo Epstein for assembling those bullpens.
This season, during which Papelbon has earned 20 of those saves, has been perhaps his most rewarding. He altered his mechanics to take strain off his shoulder, and after a start below his standard, he is dominating for the fourth season.
The best show of Papelbon’s reign in the role of Red Sox closer may be that his 2009 season has given some reason to quibble. Papelbon’s 4.4 walks per nine innings and 1.34 WHIP both rank far worse than his career bests. And yet, with a 1.80 ERA and 20 saves in 22 chances, he is likely headed to his fourth straight All-Star Game.
“He’s been so good since he’s come into this role,’’ manager Terry Francona said. “I keep getting asked about how many walks he’s had. This kid is having a fabulous year. He’s growing up. He’s getting stronger. He knows his body better. He prepares. When he gets in the game, he’s ready to pitch.’’
Papelbon arrived at Camden Yards yesterday morning eager to atone for Tuesday’s blown save.
He entered Tuesday’s game with runners on first and second, and he couldn’t extricate the Red Sox from a monumental collapse.
He felt he should have.
“I thought today was a great opportunity for our bullpen to show the league and the rest of the guys on this team what we’re really made of,’’ Papelbon said.
After the Red Sox stormed back and took a one-run lead into the 11th, Papelbon had his chance. Tuesday night, Papelbon entered the game with Felix Pie up, Nick Markakis on deck, and Aubrey Huff in the hole. Markakis blasted a two-run double to left-center field.
While he warmed up in bullpen yesterday before the bottom of the 11th, Papelbon checked who was up next for Baltimore: Pie, Markakis, and Huff. He was glad.
“No question,’’ Papelbon said. “I definitely wanted that part of the lineup. For sure.’’
Pie worked the count full before Papelbon induced a popup to the middle of the diamond. Up came Markakis, the batter Papelbon wanted most.
On Tuesday, Papelbon fed Markakis fastballs, trying to set him up for a splitter. “It didn’t work,’’ Papelbon said. Yesterday, Papelbon “pitched backwards’’ against Markakis. He threw splitters early in the count, and then used his fastball, which yesterday zipped at 94 and 95 miles per hour.
Markakis fouled a couple off, and then drove a ball to left. Unlike Tuesday, Markakis got under the pitch just enough. Jason Bay settled under the ball for the second out. Papelbon forced Huff, whom he walked Tuesday, into a shallow fly to shortstop.
All that was left for Papelbon to do was find the ball. He scooped it up and carried it back into the clubhouse. He dressed in a suit and left the park, ready for the next milestone, whatever it may be.
“I don’t know, man,’’ he said. “Just stay healthy as long as I can. Just keep grinding it out.’’
Adam Kilgore can be reached at akilgore@globe.com 