PAPELBON

BOSTON — Red Sox and Yankee players usually attempt to downplay their rivalry. It doesn’t matter whether the teams play in April or in the in the heat of a pennant race. The managers and coaches also insist it’s just another series.

Red Sox manager Terry Francona said yesterday during his daily gathering with the media that this is the type of series that can take a lot out of you, so you can’t lose perspective.

“You only get credited with one win,” he said. “I would really be happy if they said you get two wins if you beat them, but it doesn’t work that way.

“The games are a lot of fun. The games are intense, and there’s a lot of attention. The fans get into it, and so do we,” Francona said.

“What I care about is that we’re better at the end of the game,” he added. “That’s kind of why we should be up, and I’m sure (New York) is feeling the same way . . . As coaches, players and managers, you want to win. I’m not sure I care if it lives up to its billing as long as we win.”

DiSarcina to Lowell

The Red Sox named Gary DiSarcina manager of Class-A Lowell yesterday. The Massachusetts native spent 12 seasons in the majors with the California Angels. He played one season for the Pawtucket Red Sox, in 2002, before retiring.

He had done some work for NESN the last few seasons before the Red Sox hired him as a baseball operations consultant in November.

The Sox originally announced last January that Jon Deeble, the organization’s Pacific Rim scouting coordinator, would be manager of the Spinners. But he will remain in his previous role and DiSarcina will take over the managerial job. “Gary DiSarcina has been a real asset to the Red Sox since joining the organization last fall, and we feel he will be a good fit with the Lowell Spinners,” said Sox director of player development Mike Hazen. “With the major emphasis that the Red Sox place on international scouting, the decision was made to continue to allow Jon Deeble to concentrate in the Pacific Rim operation on a full-time basis.”

A native of Billerica, DiSarcina had a career .258 batting average in 1,086 games with the California/Anaheim Angels from 1989-2000. He was a two-time team MVP and a 1995 American League All-Star.

DiSarcina will continue in his baseball operations role until the Spinners open their 76-game New York-Penn League season in June.

Overexposure?

The big question surrounding last night’s game: Would Jonathan Papelbon pitch?

Papelbon recorded his fourth save of the season Thursday night in Toronto in his first back-to-back outings of the season. He retired all 11 batters he faced until allowing a single on Wednesday in Toronto, and has struck out 11 of the 16 batters he’s faced.

When asked about his closer, Francona would not discuss Papelbon specifically, merely saying the bullpen is where it needs to be.

“Our bullpen is actually in good shape,” said the manager. “We’re in good shape to go into a series right now, but that could change in a couple of days . . . Our starters, to this point, have done a very good job getting us into the game where we haven’t had to overexpose our relievers.”

Well aware of A-Rod

Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez entered last night’s game with nine home runs and 26 RBI in 14 games this season.

The Red Sox were well aware of A-Rod’s hot bat. Francona was a bench coach for Texas in 2002 when Rodriguez was the Rangers’ shortstop.

“I’m sure I saw him go through some pretty hot streaks,” said Francona. “It’s different when they’re in the same uniform. When they have a different uniform on, the pulling is a little different. He’s a great player and he’s on a great streak. Hopefully, our pitching can slow that down a little bit because he’s hitting with a lot of guys on base, also.”

Around the bases

Several Red Sox players are honoring Virginia Tech by wearing the school’s baseball hats around the clubhouse and during batting practice, including Kevin Youkilis, Coco Crisp and Jonathan Papelbon . . . Dennis “Oil Can” Boyd was at last night’s game . . . Fox Baseball broadcaster and former major-leaguer Tim McCarver was having an interesting conversation with Red Sox legend Johnny Pesky. Pesky, who always holds court in front of his locker stall in the corner of the clubhouse, pulled McCarver aside and asked where his locker was when he played in Boston (1974-75). “Right next to Yaz,” responded McCarver . . . Alex Cora said his right knee is fine after he was belted by the Jays’ Lyle Overbay during a double play on Thursday in Toronto. Cora made a tremendous play, and while in the air Overbay slid into him. Cora took exception to the takeout slide, and just to make sure he was fine, he worked out at Fenway yesterday morning.

jmcdonal@projo.com