Jonathan Papelbon stood in front of his locker, looking exhausted.

"These are the games you will yourself to win," Papelbon said

"These are the special ones for me."

Papelbon got the save. Josh Beckett the win. And one of the improbable hitting leaders was Jason Varitek (more on him later), as Boston beat Tampa Bay 4-2 Saturday night.

Game 7 is tonight (hopefully TBS will have all its power on).

Beckett remains a mystery man. He obviously is not on his game, but he still managed a four-hitter over five innings (allowing two solo homers).

He was pulled after only 78 pitches. The Red Sox remain vague to the specific problem Beckett has (we assume it is the lingering effect of his oblique strain).

But what he did was amazing, considering he did not have his usual Beckett stuff.

Now, for Varitek. Those reading an earlier edition of the Maine Sunday Telegram (the one without the final result in it) will notice a column by yours truly, about Varitek and his declining game. (The column in later editions still had a note on Varitek)

Call it the reverse of the Sports Illustrated cover jinx. Put athletes on the SI cover and watch them struggle.

I write that Varitek's game is in decline and that it will be difficult for him to get a decent contract - so he hits the go-head home run.

Maybe I will blog about how Jon Lester isn't up to pitching such a big game like tonight's ... and Kevin Youkilis is over-rated ... and David Ortiz can no longer hit ...

In typical Varitek fashion, he talked little about himself.

Question: Does a hit like that make up for some of the rough patches that you've had this season?

Varitek: "We're still here. We're still playing baseball. That's what matters most."

Beckett spoke of Varitek: "He wears that C on that jersey for a lot of different reasons, but none more important than how much respect everybody in that clubhouse, including players, coaches, upper management, has for him

"We're always pulling for that guy. It was huge for him to do that."

When Varitek hit his home run, "Our whole dugout went crazy. We'll take runs any way we can get it ... but the way it happened and as hard as he's worked, it meant a lot to everybody."

Varitek will be behind the plate tonight. He mirrors this team in one way. Just when you're ready to write him off ...

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