"A save — and what a beauty — for Jonathan Papelbon [stats].

With pitch-perfect timing, Papelbon saved the 200th game of his career last night in the presence of his professional hero, Mariano Rivera.

Much more impressive than reaching that plateau for Papelbon was that, by doing it in his 359th career game, he did it faster than anyone in baseball history.

And it was not just any closer whose record he broke.

Papelbon obliterated Rivera's mark by reaching 200 in 23 fewer games than the Yankees great.

For someone who learned prior to gametime that he faced a three-game suspension, Papelbon made a pretty smart move to appeal the penalty.

Otherwise, he would have had to serve the suspension immediately and that would mean breaking Rivera's mark in Toronto later this road trip or maybe at Tropicana Field next week.

Even if Papelbon said it made no difference to him, somehow, it just wouldn't be the same.

"It doesn't matter that I did this in front of him or not, that's kind of out of the equation, but I don't think I would have been able to do it without him making this role what it is," Papelbon said after earning his 12th save of the season, allowing one run in the ninth inning of the Sox' 6-4 victory."