PHILADELPHIA — Boston Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon has been fined by major league baseball for slow play.

Papelbon said Friday that he was taking too long to make his first pitch upon entering the game from the bullpen. Speaking before the Red Sox opened a three-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies, Papelbon said he had been warned about breaking the rule.
The Daily Item in Lynn, Mass., first reported the fine of $1,000. The paper said that Papelbon was the first player fined this season for breaking the rule designed to speed up games.
The Red Sox have the third-longest average time of game this season, 3 hours, 3 minutes.