The achievement is the most career playoff innings without allowing a single run, and it marks the longest streak since closer Mariano Rivera tossed 33 1/3 scoreless innings for the Yankees in their dynastic days of 1998-2000.

"When there comes a point when we need to lean on (Papelbon), it's there," said Red Sox manager Terry Francona, who literally shortened games knowing there was a dominant force at the back of his bullpen. "He's answered the call. He's done a terrific job."

Even on nights when he doesn't have his exploding fastball or diving split-finger, Papelbon lives to tame the hostile crowd and the opposition's bats.

Papelbon pitched in seven playoff games this year and piled up 10 1/3 innings, and he ended up throwing nearly as many pitches in the playoffs (145) as he did in both the months of June (152) and July (151). The power thrower admitted to feeling "a little beat up" and "a little tired" after Game 6, but Papelbon can now spend the rest of the winter resting up for another run in 2009.

"This is the Major League Baseball season. These aches and pains are nothing new to me," he said. "For me, if I don't have my A-plus fastball, then I better have my A-plus approach and my A-plus headset. This is something that you got to get used to, accept and just grind away at it."

RAYS 3, RED SOX 1: 2B Dustin Pedroia hit a solo homer in the top of the first inning that gave Boston a brief lead, but that was all the offense that the Sox could muster against a dominant pitching performance by Matt Garza and the Rays bullpen. LHP Jon Lester gave up three runs in seven solid innings in defeat, and the Sox offense couldn't come through despite loading the bases in the eighth inning.