Consistency, composure, and excellence, thy face is Papelbon.
``Unbelievable, huh?" said Josh Beckett, who needed 105 pitches to get 18 outs but did get the win, improving to 8-3 and positioning Papelbon for save No. 22 in 23 chances. ``Just shows what kind of makeup that kid has. He's been phenomenal. He's been the glue for us down there.
``As long as things keep jelling like that, I don't see any situation where I would bring him out of that role."
The Yankees, meanwhile, piled up a seven-run lead yesterday, with Johnny Damon chipping in a grand slam (he's hitting .297 with 10 homers and is on pace for 25 HRs and 93 RBIs). But they coughed that up, with Mariano Rivera absorbing his fourth loss of the season.
That helped the Sox reclaim a share of the pole position 66 games into the season, despite the fact that the team's bullpen (Papelbon aside) is a shell of its former self and that two-fifths of the rotation is on the disabled list. Fortunately, the Sox had factors working in their favor yesterday. Beckett came in with a 1.67 lifetime ERA here at The Ted.
And the Braves had lost 15 of 18, which is now 16 of 19, a monumental slide suggesting that time's up on the Braves' dynasty.
Kevin Youkilis, the catalyst, opened the game with a homer, his third leadoff homer of the season and eighth overall. Remember all those questions about his power this spring? Well, he's on pace for 19 homers this year. Jim Thome he is not. Adequate? Absolutely.
David Ortiz made it 2-0 in the third, lining a run-scoring double to left on a 3-and-1 count against spot starter Lance Cormier, who was gone after seven hits and four runs in four innings. Ortiz was supposed to get a rest yesterday but had to play when Manny RamÃrez dialed up the manager during the breakfast hour and said his knee wasn't up to playing. Ortiz, just 3 for 17 entering the game, came around to score on a Trot Nixon single to center.
``That's a big lift," Terry Francona said, of Ortiz being willing to forget his day off and then deliver.
