Papelbon becomes 14th to notch 100th saves

The 100-save club is no longer a baker's dozen. In the final game before the all-star break, Jonathan Papelbon earned his 18th save of the season, which was the 100th of his career. Only 13 other pitchers in league history have reached 100 saves.

Papelbon's century save came in the final game before the all-star break, preserving a 3-1 win for Hopatcong over Hillsborough at The Mud Hole. He has since compiled his 20th save and 102nd overall, passing inaugural Hall of Famer John Wettleland and Brian Fuentes, who are tied for 13th place with 101 saves.

Selected in the fourth round of the 2006 draft as an ineligible prospect by D.C. (between Rickie Weeks and David Bell - and two spots after Justin Verlander), Papelbon has averaged 16 saves per year, notching career highs of 31 in 2008 and 24 in 2009 for the then-Bushslappers (who have since moved to Bridgewater).

Papelbon passed seven retired closers this year in career saves, including Keith Foulke, John Smoltz, Jose Mesa, Rod Beck, Armando Benitez, Rick Aguilera and Rob Nen. He could crack the top 10 before the season's out, trailing Joe Nathan with 107 saves and No. 10 Bob Wickman at 109. Jeff Shaw holds down ninth place with 123 saves.

K-Rod cracks top 10 in all-time appearances

Francisco Rodriguez passed Jason Isringhausen to move into 9th all-time in appearances, with 542. K-Rod tossed two scoreless innings of relief in Sunday's game one, a 7-6 home win over Amityville.

With 31 appearances this year, Rodriguez is on pace to move into the top 5 in 2012. He passed Rick Aguilera (513) earlier this season to break into the top 10 and also is second among active pitchers, trailing only Mariano Rivera (1,156). Isringhausen is active, with 541 appearances, but hasn't signed on with a franchise this season. A busy year and K-Rod could very well reach Billy Wagner, who's 4th all-time with an even 700 games; he's averaged 64 appearances over his first eight seasons.

Though he hasn't yet recorded a save, K-Rod is enjoying a fine season in his return to Las Vegas, who selected him at the end of the 6th round this year. He's 1-2 with a 2.47 ERA and 1.02 WHIP, but even more impressively, only 4 of 24 inherited runners have scored (.167).

K-Rod also stands 8th all-time in saves with 128 but hasn't been a full-time closer since his days with Blue Ridge (2008-2010). He needs only two saves to match Roberto Hernandez for 7th all-time.

Now in his ninth season, Rodriguez broke in with Philly as a 2nd round pick (20th overall) in 2004. He notched a career-high 34 saves in back-to-back campaigns in 2006 and 2007 and then was shipped to Las Vegas with Erik Bedard in exchange for Mark Teixeira and a 3rd round pick. But it wasn't the last time he'd be traded; in fact, K-Rod has been shipped off to other teams five times in his career.

By July 2008, the Rat Pack exchanged him for Joe Nathan in a deal with then-D.C. (now Bridgewater) but he never threw a pitch for the Bushslappers. Mere weeks later, he was included in a seven-player deal to Blue Ridge. He spent a few good years with the Bombers, who then dealt him to Newark for an 11th-rounder before the start of last season. He didn't spend much with the Sugar Bears either, going to Marietta in a giant eight-player deal early in the 2011 campaign.