mr. 300

What is shaping up as a forgettable season in Philadelphia will include at least one memorable moment for Jonathan Papelbon. The former Mississippi State star notched his 300th save with a scoreless ninth inning in a 5-2 win over San Diego on Tuesday night. Papelbon, 33, reached the milestone in his 552nd appearance. Of the 25 other pitchers with 300 or more saves, only all-time leader Mariano Rivera and Trevor Hoffman got there in so few games. Things got a bit hairy for Papelbon on Tuesday: He gave up a leadoff double to Ole Miss product Seth Smith, yielded a one-out single and then hit a batter with two outs to load the bases. A bouncer to the shortstop ended it. Papelbon has 14 saves (and a 1.48 ERA) this year for the ph-lopping Phillies, who are 26-36 and last in the National League East. The save was the first for the uber-competitive Papelbon since May 24, and he has had only three opportunities since May 10. There is still some speculation he might be traded, though his big contract could be a sticking point. P.S. Ex-Ole Miss star Zack Cozart got plunked in the helmet by a Josh Beckett pitch but stayed in the game for Cincinnati and later delivered an RBI single (off MSU alum Paul Maholm). “I’m a big believer that if you’re fine, you stay in the game,” Cozart told mlb.com. The Reds, scuffling for runs, lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-1.