"Six pitches, all for strikes, and three outs.

Pretty good start to the 2011 season for Jonathan Papelbon yesterday.

"Yeah, I felt as locked in as I probably am going to get all spring,'' said Papelbon, his entire right arm encased in ice shortly after he pitched his one and done inning, the fifth, at Hammond Stadium against the Twins. "Hopefully I'll be able to continue to throw like that the rest of the spring and into the season.''

Papelbon retired the first batter he faced on a ground ball to third, then third baseman Brent Dlugach made a great dive on a bunted ball for another out (dislocating his left shoulder in the process). A ball up the middle caromed off Papelbon before being gobbled up by second baseman Oscar Tejeda to end the inning.

The Red Sox took those results as confirmation that indeed, Papelbon's mechanics look locked in.

"I thought Pap was good,'' said manager Terry Francona. "He was down. The bunt play got made, which was great, then he got the comebacker that deflected off his hand, but he threw the ball well.

"He wasn't flying all over the place, he stayed closed, he threw the ball downhill. That's good. We'll take that anytime.''

Papelbon's last two seasons have been a bit of a drop-off by his standards, with lack of control manifesting itself in walks.

To be throwing so many strikes so soon was encouraging for him."