For a change, Delcarmen sticks with fastball

Every time Manny Delcarmen comes on in relief, there's hope that he's turned the corner and is heading into the consistency and dominance the Red Sox believe he can achieve.

He was throwing 96 miles per hour last night when he came on in relief of Jon Lester in the seventh inning with the Sox trailing, 3-2. His job was to keep the status quo so the offense had a chance to go ahead, which it did in the eighth inning of what became a 5-3 victory over the Rangers.

Delcarmen struck out Jason Botts with Hank Blalock on first base. After he walked David Murphy, he struck out Gerald Laird to get out of the inning.

"We want him to assume the responsibility. After the hiccups in Toronto, he didn't hang his head, he didn't doubt himself," said manager Terry Francona. "We talked about him all spring and how he's growing into being a veteran. By that, I mean being complementary about the way he acts, the way he works. Assuming responsibility is probably a good way to put it."

While the walk Delcarmen allowed was nerve-racking, he stuck with his fastball and used it when he was ahead on the count, scrapping his changeup, which Frank Thomas killed in Toronto two weeks ago.

"I just decided I'm going to go with my best pitch and not get beat with the changeup," Delcarmen said.

"I'm going to mix a few in there, but when I need to get somebody out, I can't get beat on something other than my fastball."

Delcarmen was excited to get out of the seventh while preserving the score. He watched from the dugout as the Sox rallied in the eighth.

"Manny [Ramírez] is looking like he's seeing the ball the size of a basketball," said Delcarmen. "Manny is unbelievable right now. As long as we can keep these games 3-2, 2-1, or whatever, our offense is going to have the chance like we did tonight to win it."

Penalty balks

Even though Ramírez was the target of a Kyle Farnsworth 97-m.p.h fastball toward the head, he doesn't think the Yankee reliever should have been suspended.

"He don't deserve that," Ramírez said. "He was just protecting his players. You know we hit [Alex Rodriguez] the game before."

Farnsworth, who threw behind Ramírez's head in the seventh inning of Thursday night's 7-5 Red Sox victory, received a three-game suspension and an undisclosed fine from league disciplinarian Bob Watson yesterday.

Ramírez was matter-of-fact about the incident. "That's the way the game is played," he said. "You hit one of their guys, they're gonna hit one of yours."

Farnsworth will appeal the suspension and therefore will be available to play until his hearing.

Francona said the issue was "none of my business," but he wasn't surprised Farnsworth appealed.

Marzano dead at 45

John Marzano, who played for the Red Sox from 1987-92, has died at the age of 45. Police found him in his home in Philadelphia yesterday. The cause wasn't revealed, but he apparently fell down a flight of stairs. Red Sox staff had heard that Marzano may have suffered a heart attack.

Marzano had been working for Major League Baseball's website, cohosting a weekday morning show. He also worked for Comcast SportsNet for Phillies games and was said to be really enjoying his new career as a baseball analyst.

Marzano said recently he had hoped to expand his career to be a color analyst on radio or TV.

He was a personal favorite of superstars Roger Clemens and Rodriguez, having played with them in Boston and Seattle. Clemens once said of Marzano, "I enjoyed him as a friend, but he was one of my favorite guys to throw to. He was a very smart catcher who really understood the game."

Jason Varitek, who played with Marzano in the Seattle system, said, "I'm just shocked. What a terrific guy he was. He was always so pleasant to be around. I just can't believe when I heard about it."

The Red Sox said in a statement, "The Boston Red Sox organization joins all of Major League Baseball in mourning the passing of John Marzano. It is a great loss."

The Sox held a moment of silence in his memory before last night's game.

Marzano played for the Red Sox, Rangers, and Mariners. He is survived by his wife, two daughters, and two grandchildren.

Aprils suit him

Jonathan Papelbon has an 0.57 ERA in 29 April appearances, allowing just 14 hits with 44 strikeouts and compiling a 23-for-23 record in save chances . . . Theo Epstein said it was too early to begin talks dealing with Bartolo Colon's May 1 opt-out clause. Colon is progressing from a strained right oblique, but Francona said Colon would not be ready to pitch by May 1 in the majors. The Sox don't seem concerned that Colon would opt out . . . Francona said he's hoping to start Coco Crisp tomorrow. Crisp has begun to respond well to rehab on his hamstring . . . Mike Lowell took 35 swings off the tee. Lowell, on the disabled list with a sprained left thumb, thinks he could be playing in about a week. He's not opposed to a rehab stint in the minors. "I was really encouraged by how it felt," he said. "I think it was a step in the right direction. I was excited and anxious to see how it was going to feel." Lowell said the medical staff is trying to find a contraption to keep the ligament in place.

Thrown a loop

Alex Cora, on the DL with a sprained right elbow, said he was OK to do everything but throw. "I just have to rest it now," he said. "I can hit and do everything, but I can't throw. It'll take a while; I have to be patient with it." . . . David Ortiz seemed far more relaxed yesterday after hitting his eighth career grand slam Friday night. It was his first slam since Aug. 18, 2007, vs. the Angels and Jered Weaver. It was his seventh with Boston, tying him with Jimmie Foxx, Jackie Jensen, Ramírez, Mo Vaughn, and Carl Yastrzemski for sixth in team history. It was only his second extra-base hit of the season and his first since April 2 against Oakland. He went 50 at-bats without a homer. Of his last six homers, three have come against lefthanders . . . It shouldn't be long before Justin Masterson (1-0) comes to Pawtucket. Pitching for Double A Portland, the Sox prospect struck out 10 - all swinging - over five innings in a 6-2 win over the Mets Friday. Masterson allowed four hits and two walks. The 10 K's matched a career high as Masterson lowered his ERA to 0.95.