by Sports Xchange

Updated: July 5, 2008, 4:00 AM EST

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In the past, Delcarmen might have wondered about his job security or questioned how much confidence the Sox coaching staff has in his golden arm. But now he has multiple stints with the Sox under his belt at this point in his career, and his role as a seventh- and eighth-inning fireman is much more well-defined than in past auditions.

Delcarmen repaid that confidence with a key out in Boston's Friday afternoon win over the Yankees when he entered a bases-loaded situation with two outs and third baseman Alex Rodriguez at the plate.

Delcarmen jumped ahead of A-Rod quickly and retired the go-ahead run to help the Sox escape the seventh inning -- a point in the game that's been a bullpen bugaboo for much of the season.

"It's coming right from Tito," said Delcarmen, referring to the confidence he's gained from the confidence his manager, Terry Francona, has in him. "He pulled me aside right after Tampa and he said, 'We're going to keep giving you the ball and it's going to be up to you.' That's going to keep building my confidence up because I was feeling a little down after the way I threw the ball in Houston and Tampa."

Delcarmen ended up recording only two outs during an event-filled game, but the Boston native is once building together a case that the Sox don't need to search far and wide for additions to the 'pen.

RED SOX 6, YANKEES 4: RHP Josh Beckett got off to a sluggish start and surrendered three runs early, but 1B Kevin Youkilis smacked a two-run triple off the top of the left-field fence that tied the game in the top of the third. Sox 3B Mike Lowell struck the crushing blow in the fifth inning when he smoked a fastball into the bleachers for a three-run home run. Lowell finished with two hits and four RBI on the evening.