When asked after the Red Sox’ 9-3 win over the Orioles Saturday night if he felt like he had a first half worthy of a selection to the American League All-Star team, Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon said, “I do. I feel like that if you’re on a winning team and you’re up at the top of saves — and that’s what I have to do is go out and get saves — I’ve given myself a shot.”

Papelbon has made the All-Star team in each of his first full seasons in the major leagues, and is in position to earn another berth when the teams are announced noon on Sunday. The reliever is second in the AL in saves with 19, trailing Texas’ Neftali Feliz and Joakim Soria of Kansas City, both of whom have 21. Tampa Bay’s Rafael Soriano also has 19 saves, but with just one blown save compared to Papelbon’s three.

A potential roadblock for Papelbon is his ERA, which stands at 3.71 in large part to back-to-back blown saves in Colorado where he surrendered a combined five runs in 2 1/3 innings. Heading into the series with the Rockies the closer totaled a 2.76 ERA, and he hasn’t allowed a hit in three appearances since leaving Denver.

“I think you take the guys that are having good seasons and you take the guys who are going to help you win the ballgame. More than ever, you take guys who try and keep a winning streak going and I feel like I can help in that equation, helping win a ballgame,” Papelbon said. “If it happens obviously I’ll be super excited, but if it doesn’t I can’t let it affect me and bring me down and I have to go out there and still continue to be successful the second half of the season.

“As far as saves goes I’m up there where I should be and besides a couple of bumps in the road in Colorado I feel like for the most part of the year I’ve pitched well.”

Considering Papelbon has had to bounce back from the kind of adversity he rarely endured during his stretch as the Sox’ closer (9 of his 14 earned runs have come in three outings), he notes that this selection would be one of the most satisfying.

“The first one is always the one that sticks in your head,” he said. “But if I make it this year it will be very gratifying knowing fans and players understand the season and how you have to grind it out. Hopefully I’m viewed as someone who grinds out a season and goes out there and no matter what happens one day I’m ready to play the next.”

The All-Star Game will be played in Anaheim at Angel Stadium on July 13. No Red Sox player is in position to be voted in as a starter. For more on the Red Sox see the team page by going to weei.com/redsox.