Jonathan Papelbon

It's funny that two teams playing each other this weekend took such opposite paths. The Phillies spent $50 million for four years on Jonathan Papelbon because they identified him as one of the top three closers in the game. Their assessment has been correct, as he had 12 saves in 12 chances going into Saturday night's game. The Red Sox went for the low-cost approach with arbitration-eligible Andrew Bailey . Bailey, whose salary is $3.9 million this year, got hurt in spring training and hasn't yet pitched.

BALTIMORE - It was at Camden Yards where the season ended for the Red Sox last year, the Baltimore Orioles scoring two runs off Jonathan Papelbon in the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 162. The loss eliminated the Sox from postseason contention and touched off a series of changes in the organization. The effects of that transition lingered into this season as the Red Sox were depleted by injuries while adjusting to new manager Bobby Valentine. But against a team they owed some payback, the Red Sox continued a steady climb back to respectability on Monday night, beating the Orioles, 8-6....

PHILADELPHIA - He had hoped to face some of his old pals like David Ortiz, but after Ortiz pinch hit in the eighth inning Friday night, that matchup was eliminated. Not that Jonathan Papelbon suffered any degree of discontent in his debut against his old team, the Red Sox, following a 6-4 Phillies win in which he earned his 12th save in as many chances. "I was kind of keeping track of that a little, but when it comes down to getting ready to come in the ballgame I was locked in and all the stuff is thrown out the window," Papelbon said.

By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff Major League Baseball has been trying to draw more attention to its annual amateur draft in recent years. The first round is now televised on MLB Network and each team sends a representative. The great Dwight Evans will be on hand for the Red Sox this year. The draft starts on June 4 in scenic Secaucus, N.J. The Sox are picking 24th, 31st and 37th in the first round.Then 87th, 118th, and 151st. The 31st and 37th picks are compensation for Jonathan Papelbon.

Here are the lineups: RED SOX (18-20) Aviles SS Pedroia 2B Gonzalez 1B Ross RF Middlebrooks 3B Saltalamacchia C Nava LF Byrd CF Pitching: RHP Daniel Bard (3-4, 4.30) PHILLIES (20-19) Rollins SS Pierre LF Victorino CF Pence RF Ruiz C Wigginton 3B Mayberry 1B Galvis 2B Pitching: LHP Cole Hamels (5-1, 2.28) Game time: 7:05 p.m. TV/Radio: NESN, MLB Network / WRKO Red Sox vs. Hamels: Ross 10-38, 4 HR; Gonzalez 8-24, 2 HR; Pedroia 5-12, 1 HR; Byrd 2-8, Salty 3-6, Nava 1-3, Ortiz...

PHILADELPHIA - Jonathan Papelbon started slowly, feeling out his new teammates, letting them adjust to him. When spring training began with the Phillies, the former Red Sox closer, sporting new colors and in new surroundings for the first time in his career, didn't open his mouth immediately. There were a few weeks of silence - a subdued version of a closer who is rarely subdued. And then he busted out the briefcase. The case, all silver and black and metal, contained his in with the team.

CLEARWATER, Fla. - Former Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon backed off his criticism of Boston baseball fans on Monday. Papelbon said he meant no harm and didn't mean to rip Boston fans when he said on Philadelphia radio station 94-WIP earlier in spring training that the difference between Boston and Philadelphia is, "the Boston fans are a little bit more hysterical when it comes to the game of baseball. The Philly fans tend to know the game a little better, being in the National League, you know, the way the game is played.

Long before the dancing, there was the decision. Despite recording 35 saves and a 0.92 ERA in 59 relief appearances, and being named to the American League All-Star team as a rookie in 2006, because of concerns over a pitching shoulder that wore down and sidelined him the final month of the season, Jonathan Papelbon arrived in Fort Myers, Fla., last February expecting to be part of the Red Sox' starting rotation. The team's medical staff felt starting was the best way for Papelbon to avoid a recurrence of a "transient subluxation event," the shoulder slipping out...

Jonathan Papelbon has already endeared himself to Phillies fans without throwing a meaningful pitch. Papelbon, the former Red Sox closer, had high praise for Philadelphia fans, even though he's only been with the team a few months. "The difference between Boston and Philadelphia, the Boston fans are a little bit more hysterical when it comes to the game of baseball," Papelbon said Thursday in a radio interview with Philadelphia's 94-WIP. "The Philly fans tend to know the game a little better, being in the National League, you know, the way the game is played.

CLEARWATER, Fla. - His body of work as a closer for the Red Sox had its warts, but overall you can't deny that he has been one of the best in baseball. Which is why the respected talent evaluators of the Philadelphia Phillies discarded their own guys (Ryan Madson and Brad Lidge) and made Jonathan Papelbon the highest-paid reliever in baseball with a stunning four-year, $50 million deal in the offseason. People tend to be opinionated about Papelbon and his new contract, which some believe is far too much for a closer.

BALTIMORE - It was at Camden Yards where the season ended for the Red Sox last year, the Baltimore Orioles scoring two runs off Jonathan Papelbon in the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 162. The loss eliminated the Sox from postseason contention and touched off a series of changes in the organization. The effects of that transition lingered into this season as the Red Sox were depleted by injuries while adjusting to new manager Bobby Valentine. But against a team they owed some payback, the Red Sox continued a steady climb back to respectability on Monday night, beating the Orioles,...

It's funny that two teams playing each other this weekend took such opposite paths. The Phillies spent $50 million for four years on Jonathan Papelbon because they identified him as one of the top three closers in the game. Their assessment has been correct, as he had 12 saves in 12 chances going into Saturday night's game. The Red Sox went for the low-cost approach with arbitration-eligible Andrew Bailey . Bailey, whose salary is $3.9 million this year, got hurt in spring training and hasn't yet pitched.

PHILADELPHIA — Cole Hamels pitched seven strong innings, and Hunter Pence and Freddy Galvis homered to lead the Philadelphia Phillies to their sixth straight victory with a 6-4 win over the Boston Red Sox on Friday night. Hamels (6-1) gave up three runs on six hits while striking out nine and walking one. It was the sixth straight win for Hamels, who improved to 4-0 in five career starts against Boston. Streaking Carlos Ruiz went 2 for 3 with a pair of RBIs for Philadelphia, which moved two games above .500 for the first time this season.

PHILADELPHIA - He had hoped to face some of his old pals like David Ortiz, but after Ortiz pinch hit in the eighth inning Friday night, that matchup was eliminated. Not that Jonathan Papelbon suffered any degree of discontent in his debut against his old team, the Red Sox, following a 6-4 Phillies win in which he earned his 12th save in as many chances. "I was kind of keeping track of that a little, but when it comes down to getting ready to come in the ballgame I was locked in and all the stuff is thrown out the window," Papelbon said.

Daniel Bard was ineffective again as the Phillies beat the Red Sox, 6-4. In his On Baseball column, Nick Cafardo writes that Jonathan Papelbon closed the door on his old team. The notebook has Cody Ross and Jarrod Saltalamacchia suffering injuries. Red Sox season ticket holders can't get rid of their extra seats this season. Beth Teitell has the story.

It was no surprise that Philadelphia earned its season-best sixth straight victory with Cole Hamels on the mound. Hamels pitched seven strong innings, and Hunter Pence and Freddy Galvis homered to lead the Phillies to a 6-4 win over the Boston Red Sox on Friday night. Hamels (6-1) gave up three runs on six hits while striking out nine and walking one. It was the sixth straight win for Hamels, who improved to 4-0 in five career starts against Boston. "I'm just doing everything I've done the past couple of years," Hamels said.

PHILADELPHIA - Jonathan Papelbon started slowly, feeling out his new teammates, letting them adjust to him. When spring training began with the Phillies, the former Red Sox closer, sporting new colors and in new surroundings for the first time in his career, didn't open his mouth immediately. There were a few weeks of silence - a subdued version of a closer who is rarely subdued. And then he busted out the briefcase. The case, all silver and black and metal, contained his in with the team.

By Nick Cafardo, Globe Staff PHILADELPHIA — Former Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon often fell into his "Cinco-Ocho" character as he addressed the Boston and Philadelphia media this afternoon, but he hoped he would pitch all three games of the series against his former team. Asked whether it would be strange to face his old team he said, "I don't think it will be. Just gonna go out there and let Cinco take over man. "I'm not worried about it. I think I've been looking forward to this series from the day I signed here.

PHILADELPHIA - He had hoped to face some of his old pals like David Ortiz, but after Ortiz pinch hit in the eighth inning Friday night, that matchup was eliminated. Not that Jonathan Papelbon suffered any degree of discontent in his debut against his old team, the Red Sox, following a 6-4 Phillies win in which he earned his 12th save in as many chances. "I was kind of keeping track of that a little, but when it comes down to getting ready to come in the ballgame I was locked in and all the stuff is thrown out the window," Papelbon said.

PHILADELPHIA - Jonathan Papelbon started slowly, feeling out his new teammates, letting them adjust to him. When spring training began with the Phillies, the former Red Sox closer, sporting new colors and in new surroundings for the first time in his career, didn't open his mouth immediately. There were a few weeks of silence - a subdued version of a closer who is rarely subdued. And then he busted out the briefcase. The case, all silver and black and metal, contained his in with the team.