One huge factor in what looked to be Tampa’s Bay’s stunning sweep of the Fenway Park ALCS games was that Jonathan Papelbon didn’t leave the bullpen until a courtesy/desperation appearance in the seventh inning of Game 5 -- one that looked bad when he allowed two inherited runners to score but became surprisingly important when he stifled any further scoring.

For most of this series Papelbon was neutered as Tampa Bay scored early and often and the Rays’ starting pitchers negated Boston’s bats (until the final three innings of Game 5 when the Red Sox incredibly rallied back from a 7-0 deficit to stave off elimination with by winning 8-7).

For Red Sox Nation there was going to be much gnashing of teeth about the absence of Manny Ramirez, whether David Ortiz was healthy and the first postseason slump by Jacoby Ellsbury – that is until the astounding three-inning deathbed kick by Boston that sent the series back to Tampa Bay for Game 6 on Saturday night.

But a Red Sox weapon every bit as mighty as the Boston bats which suddenly awoke from a series-long slumber has been Papelbon – a 27-year-old who in just three-plus seasons in the majors could be on track to become the next Mariano Rivera, the game’s next great closer.

Let’s be clear that assertion is a very early statement. Rivera has excelled for a decade, working 76 postseason games and 117 innings with 34 saves and a ridiculous 0.77 ERA. He may not have the zip of his early years but the hitters still know the cutter is coming and are still left helpless dealing with it.

Papelbon will turn 28 in November and has worked in 15 postseason games for 24 innings without allowing a run. He has allowed only 10 hits, striking out 21 in the 24 innings.

Can he maintain that level of dominance? For him to have a shot at answering that question Boston must maintain its standing as an annual playoff contender. The Red Sox are young but Tampa Bay’s arrival and the continued rebuilding in Toronto give pause to the thought that Boston can replicate the Yankees’ 12-year playoff run.

Then there is the question of whether a hard thrower like Papelpon -- someone who relies on heat -- can sustain that dominance over a decade. An even bigger question to me is whether Papelbon can continue to throw a splitter over time without injury.

Watching Brad Lidge in the late parts of the season, where he has maintained his perfect save record despite some rocky moments, makes one appreciate the utter dominance of Rivera and Papelbon.