After the closer suffers his first blown save in 21 chances, Red Sox batters supply the go-ahead run in the eighth inning that won the game.

01:00 AM EDT on Saturday, June 10, 2006

BY SEAN McADAM
Journal Sports Writer

BOSTON -- For better than the first two months of this season, Jonathan Papelbon had been his team's safeguard. Whenever the Red Sox needed him, the rookie closer was there to protect a late-inning lead.

Last night, when he finally stumbled, it was time for his teammates to return the favor. After Papelbon surrendered a game-tying single to Hank Blalock in the eighth inning and suffered his first blown save in 21 chances, the Red Sox countered with a go-ahead run of their own in the bottom of the inning, producing a 4-3 victory over the Texas Rangers.

Mike Lowell's sacrifice fly scored Manny Ramirez from third, giving the Sox their fifth straight home win and vaulting them back into first place in the American League East.

Papelbon had inherited a two-out, first-and-third situation from fellow rookie Craig Hansen in the eighth when Blalock lined a single to center on a 1-and-2 fastball.

"I guess statistically, that's considered (a blown save)," said manager Terry Francona, "but it's a pretty tough situation. The reason we got him was because Blalock's maybe one of the best fastball hitters in the league. He can hit just about anything. (But) once we scored, Pap went right back out and was lights out."

Indeed, if Papelbon was distracted about losing the lead and seeing his consecutive-save streak clipped, he didn't show it in the ninth. He fanned Mark DeRosa and Brad Wilkerson for the first two outs, then, after allowing an infield single to Rod Barajas, struck out rookie second baseman Ian Kinsler.

"It's not about my streak," Papelbon said. "It's about winning ballgames as a team, as a whole. I don't feel like I deserved the win, but I'll put that in the file of learning experiences."

Papelbon's first career save -- and first outing as a closer this season -- came against these same Texas Rangers on April 6.

Starter Tim Wakefield had limited the Rangers to two runs over the first seven innings, but after 96 pitches and some discomfort from lingering back spasms, he didn't pitch the ninth.

Last night marked the third straight strong outing for Wakefield -- a 2.05 E.R.A. in that span -- though he recorded just one win for his efforts. After Michael Young lofted a two-run homer into the Monster Seats in the third, Wakefield was virtually unhittable, retiring 14 of the final 15 batters he faced.

"It was a little bit (of a challenge)," Wakefield said. "I've been battling some back spasms from my last start. That extra day really helped with the rainout. I was able to get a little extra treatment and try to battle through it.

"Warming up in the pen, it bothered me a little bit, but once I got in the game and got a good sweat and got loose, after the first couple of innings, I felt a lot better."

For their part, Red Sox hitters did little against Texas starter Vicente Padilla after the first inning.

Back-to-back singles by Coco Crisp (three hits) and Mark Loretta looked like they might be wasted until Trot Nixon drove a two-seamer into the Red Sox bullpen for his sixth homer of the season and third in his last nine games.

Over his last six games, Nixon is hitting .550 (11-for-20) with three doubles, five RBI and five runs scored.

"Trot looks like he's trying to get hot," Francona said.

After the first inning, the Sox put the leadoff man on base in five of the next six innings, but failed to get another run off Padilla. From the second inning through the seventh, the Sox stranded six runners and hit into two double plays.

Four times, innings ended with a Red Sox baserunner in scoring position. But after Padilla left, the Sox' fortunes changed.

With Francisco Cordero on in the eighth, Ramriez walked, took third on a single to right by Nixon and scored on Lowell's fly ball to right.

smcadam@projo.com / (401) 277-7340