FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) – After slow spring training starts, Jon Papelbon and Kevin Youkilis are finally showing why the Boston Red Sox are counting heavily on two of their brightest prospects in recent years.

Papelbon allowed one hit in five scoreless innings and Youkilis hit his third homer of the exhibition season in a 5-5 tie in 10 innings with the Florida Marlins on Friday. The game was stopped by mutual agreement after Florida used six pitchers and Boston used five.

Papelbon was Boston’s first pitcher of the game and allowed only a single to Eric Reed in the third, while striking out two and walking three. In his other three outings, he gave up nine runs in eight innings after posting a 2.65 ERA in 17 appearances as a rookie last season.

He likely will start this season in the bullpen but also can close and, eventually, is expected to be a starter.

“Early on in spring training I don’t think you necessarily look for results,” Papelbon said. “Toward the end, you want to get your confidence high” and post impressive numbers.

The final stat line doesn’t matter as much to Francona.

“The results aren’t what we’re looking for down here,” he said. “We’re looking for arm strength, starting to command their fastball to both sides of the plate and using their offspeed pitches. I thought he threw the ball extremely well today.”

Youkilis, known for his sharp batting eye, also is showing power in his first season as Boston’s regular first baseman. He’s tied for the team lead in homers and leads the Red Sox with nine RBIs.

“He’s still commanding the strike zone but he’s putting more aggressive swings as he gets older, more mature and stronger. It’s fun to watch,” Francona said. “I have a lot of confidence in his ability as a hitter.”

Like Papelbon, Youkilis has improved as spring training has progressed. He is 6-for-17 since going hitless in his first eight exhibition at-bats.

Josh Johnson, the winner in his other three spring training appearances, allowed all five Boston runs in the first four innings. The first two came in the third on a single by Manny Ramirez, a throwing error by third baseman Mike Kinkade and a two-run single by Alex Gonzalez. In the fourth, Youkilis hit his three-run homer after a walk to Mike Lowell and a double by J.T. Snow.

Papelbon left with a 5-0 lead, but the Marlins tied it with five runs off minor-leaguer Chris Smith.

, who worked the next 2 1-3 innings.

Chris Aguila hit a two-run homer in the sixth, Mickey Lopez hit a sacrifice fly in the seventh and Scott Seabol added a two-run single in the eighth of Craig Hansen, although the runs were charged to Smith. Hansen, drafted in the first round last year, struck out the other two batters he faced.

AP-ES-03-17-06 1809EST