Papelbon came in and blew the Rangers away, getting the side in order, striking out two and needing only 11 pitches. He did not allow a ball out of the infield. It had the feel of watching Tom Brady take over for Drew Bledsoe. And it is sure to fan the flames back home.
All spring, the Sox maintained Foulke still had the job of closer. But in the third game of the year, the first closing situation, Francona went with the raw righty rookie. And there seemed to be some symmetry in having Papelbon pick up his first career save on the same night that Josh Beckett picked up his first Red Sox victory.
The clubhouse was closed a little longer than usual after the win, and when the doors flew open, the manager denied that we'd just seen the passing of the bullpen torch.
''This is by no means an indictment of Foulke," said Francona. ''I think he's going to be brilliant. This is something we had talked about. I would not do something like that without talking to the player. I think Foulke is ready right now to be the guy we need."
Reminded that this makes it look like Papelbon is now the closer, Francona said, ''I don't care what it looks like."
To his credit, Foulke took the high road.
''I could be throwing the ball better and Pap is throwing the ball great," said Foulke, who was a World Series hero in 2004, but stumbled badly in an injury-plagued 2005. ''You just do what you're told."
It's an awkward situation. Foulke makes $7.75 million this year while Papelbon makes $335,400. Foulke had surgery on both of his knees last year and did not pitch much in spring training this year. Papelbon throws much harder and looks like a better option. Foulke came into the ninth inning of a 7-2 game on Opening Day and was hit hard, giving up a run on two hits and a couple of long outs. Now, despite Francona's insistence to the contrary, it looks like Foulke has lost his job without even having a chance to blow a save. It was pretty clear the Sox didn't trust him with Beckett's 2-1 lead last night.
''I can live with myself," said Francona. ''Sometimes you have to do what you think is right."
