Jonathan

Papelbon

Papelbon would start Tuesday against the Tigers, despite having pitched in relief at Triple-A since being sent down earlier this month.

Papelbon will start tonight against the Tigers. Whether he stays on the roster after the game might depend on how long he lasts. If he only goes four or five innings, the Red Sox may need to call up another pitcher tomorrow.

Papelbon is scheduled to start his third game in place of an injured Wade Miller (shoulder) Sunday, and could stick around in the bullpen even after Miller returns.

Manny Delcarmen will be sent down to open up a roster spot.

Papelbon may make a few more starts with Wade Miller on the disabled list, but with the Red Sox having to use four bullpen arms tonight he also might be sent down to add a fresh arm for tomorrow’s game. He’d get the Angels and Tigers again if he were to stay in the majors.

''He’s definitely got another start,’' said manager Terry Francona, implying that Papelbon will pitch again Sunday in Anaheim.

Manager Terry Francona often seems petrified to leave Wily Mo Pena in with the Red Sox ahead in the later innings, but he left a potential gold-glove shortstop on the bench throughout today’s game and it could have cost his team a victory. It did, at least, cost the club Papelbon’s services for at least one day. Papelbon entered with a four-run lead, two on and one out in the ninth. After a walk to Corey Patterson, Papelbon got a routine grounder to short that should have resulted in a game-ending double play. Instead, Alex Cora let the ball go under his glove for a run-scoring error. Papelbon struck out Nick Markakis and then walked Brian Roberts to force in a run. It took a great play from Mike Lowell on a hard smash to third off Melvin Mora’s bat to end the game. If the Red Sox have a save chance tomorrow, it will probably go to Mike Timlin, who wasn’t used today.

Once again, some late-inning heroics bailed out Red Sox manager Terry Francona. Mike Timlin was allowed to start the eighth with a one-run lead, but Papelbon was warming up right from the start of the inning. Still, Francona allowed Timlin to face Travis Hafner with a man on second and one out. Timlin missed badly with a pitch and gave up his third homer in four appearances. It certainly wasn’t due to overuse that Papelbon wasn’t in there; he had pitched just three innings in 13 days and hadn’t worked since Saturday. In all, he’s pitched seven hitless innings since the All-Star break, taking his ERA back down to 0.50.

Papelbon was very shaky in the ninth inning. Brian Roberts hit a liner to center that was caught to lead off the inning, and Brandon Fahey followed with a double, only to get thrown out trying to go to third. A hard grounder from Melvin Mora ended the frame. A perfect 10th inning that inclduded two strikeouts followed. Papelbon blew his previous two save chances, so he needed this one.

The last thing the Red Sox needed right now was for Papelbon to go into the first slump of his career. However, that seems to be exactly what’s going on. The worst break was that Royals manager Buddy Bell decided to give one of his best hitters a rare at-bat, and Esteban German came through with a triple after pinch-hitting for Angel Berroa. A sac fly with one out seemed certain to send the game into extra innings, but Mark Grudzielanek followed with a double and Mike Sweeney singled into left to score the winning run. Manny Ramirez should have had a play at the plate, but he couldn’t get the ball out of his glove and didn’t even make a throw as the Red Sox lost for the 10th time in 16 games.