Rodriguez

ANAHEIM, Calif. — This series serves as a matchup of two of the premier closers in the game in the Red Sox’ Jonathan Papelbon and the Angels’ Francisco Rodriguez.

Rodriguez set a major-league record with 62 saves this season and appeared in 76 games. Papelbon finished third in the American League with 41 saves in 67 games.

“You have to get the last outs, whether it’s three, four, five or six, to win ballgames,” said L.A. manager Mike Scioscia. “Having someone like Francisco takes pressure off your starters and off your whole bullpen.”

Papelbon has enjoyed great success in the playoffs, which he hopes to continue. In nine career playoff games, he’s worked 14 2/3 scoreless innings. That’s the fifth-most innings without a run in playoff history.

Papelbon

“It’s do-or-die this time of year,” said Papelbon. “You get the ball and there’s not a lot of room for error. But every season is different.”

Jason Varitek has caught more games as a Red Sox than anyone in history. He’s been on teams with good closers, bad closers and closers by committee. Papelbon is clearly one of the very best.

“I’ve been here when we haven’t had that, and that’s left a big question mark,” said Varitek. “It left a question mark of A, who gets the ball, and B, whose role is everybody going to fall into. I think it was big for this organization that we came back to that in spring training when we were saying, ‘Who is going to be the closer?’ and it turned back to Pap. The bullpen relaxes, they start to figure out what their roles are and everybody adds in between to get a means to an end in Pap.”

kmcnamar@projo.com