Wednesday night offered a reminder. A reminder of just how perfect Jonathan Papelbon and the town he plays in go together.

The end result was a 7-5 Red Sox win over the Angels, along with Papelbon's 30th save of the season. On the surface it would appear as though it was the latter which served as the foundation for the recollection of exactly what kind of symbiotic relationship we're talking about here.

It was, after all, the first time in major league history a pitcher has notched 30 or more saves in each of his first five full seasons. 

But, nope. That has been the payoff.

Why the Sox' ninth victory in as many tries against the Angels this season served as a the partnership's bucket of cold water was because of how Papelbon did what he did ... where he did what he did.

What the closer did was strike out the side for the first time this season, marking his 15th such accomplishment in his career. It was the first time since June 17, 2008 that Papelbon whiffed all three batters he faced, without a hit or walk tarnishing the frame.

Fourteen pitches, 11 strikes, seven fastballs, five splitters, two sliders, and three swings and misses. Textbook. And all of it with the cloud of recent past performances still looming.

"It's been tough. I've had to be able to withstand a lot," Papelbon said. "I've blown more saves than I have in any other season, but I've also proved to myself that no matter what is presented to me, and what situation I put myself in, I've always been able to come back and throw some punches. back at them."

Resiliency is certainly part of the attraction that comes with the Papelbon/Red Sox relationship. 

But then there is perhaps the more dominant, yet subtle, element of the equation. Papelbon feeds off the confines of Fenway Park. It might be the music. Perhaps it is the crowd circling the wagon around him. Or maybe it's just the comfort of everything that comes with being home.

It's been said many times that it takes a certain type of personality to play in Boston. Papelbon has not only proven that he is of that ilk, but he has the numbers to prove it.

Look at the comparisons for Papelbon's 2010 season:

Home: 3-1; 15 saves in 16 opportunities; 28 strikeouts in 25 1/3 innings, walking just seven. He has allowed just six runs in 25 appearances at Fenway, giving up more than one run just once (April 7 vs. the Yankees).

Away: 1-4; 15 saves in 20 opportunities; 21 strikeouts in 26 1/3 innings, walking 13. He has allowed 15 runs in 25 appearances away from home, surrounding more than one run four times.

The fact is that while everybody thinks the old Papelbon has been hard to find, the reality is that he could be found front and center in the home whites almost without fail. Example: Wonder which Red Sox pitcher has the highs strikeouts-per-nine innings ratio? That would be Papelbon at 9.95.

"I'm sure it has something to do with the crowd," said Red Sox pitching coach John Farrell. "He's always been a guy who can channel the energy in the right way, and this crowd is certainly behind him here, he's comfortable here, he's pitched a lot of games here. I think all of those factors might play into it some."

For his career, the splits aren't nearly as divided, with Papelbon's numbers on the road actually narrowly winning out in some respect. But we're talking about this year, and the pitcher it has presented.

At 29 years-old, and a veteran of six major-league seasons, Papelbon is evolving, not devolving. His velocity has been better of late than we have witnessed in years (sitting at 97 and 98 mph), with a split that simply wasn't even an option a year ago. Is the execution always there? No. But on the list of fixable things, that is at the top of the list.

"The stuff he had in Toronto might have been some of the best stuff he's had in years," Farrell explained. "When he's up in the zone and when guys know what he's going to bring, they gear up for velocity. But when he's able to be down in the zone and locate, regardless of how hard you throw, guys are talented so velocity isn't the only thing, it has to be located.

"When he's working ahead in the count he has the luxury to use his other pitches. But more importantly, hitters know they are going to get a couple, three fastballs every at-bat. When he's able to locate down in the zone than it puts the hitter on the defensive, with that velocity it's such a hard pitch to drive when it's down in the zone."

Lately many have zeroed in the notion that the pitcher will be making more than $10 million in his final year of arbitration this offseason, along with the controversies that came with giving up three runs on three separate occasions this season. (As an aside, Francisco Rodriguez gave up three or more runs three times in his record-setting save season of 2008.) 

But those wanting to push Papelbon out of town should stop, take a deep breath, and understand what they have here: A pitcher who can handle being imperfect in the most perfect of occasions. 

Just a reminder that kind of closer can come in pretty handy, as Red Sox followers were awoken to Wednesday night.

"If you look at my role, in the last five years, what I’ve been able to do, it’s more of a mental grind than anything," Papelbon said. "Being a closer in the American League East, in this division, the last five years, is more of a mental grind than anything else. Yeah you have to keep your body sharp and do the work to get yourself out there every night, but it’s a mental grind, and closers, especially in this division, in this league. Have to grind mentally more than anything else. And those are the challenges that present me in my role, more than anything else."