But it might have been natural to wonder why the rocket-armed righty wasn't looming as a bigger factor in the ALDS win over the Angels.

Twenty-three year-old Justin Masterson pitched in all four games and seemed to be specifically assigned many of the "high leverage" outs in the seventh and eighth inning.

The appearance was that Masterson has become the favored bridge to closer Jonathan Papelbon.

But the ALCS, and the ALDS before it, is all about matchups, and the Sox are counting on Delcarmen to step up and assume a bigger role in the late innings against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Both Hideki Okajima and Javy Lopez have done the job versus lefties this season as well, but Delcarmen gives the Sox the added benefit of overpowering both righty and lefty hitters. Rather than make three moves and burn three pitchers while in the process of maneuvering around Carlos Pena, Evan Longoria or Carl Crawford, Delcarmen can amble in and indiscriminately blow people away. Delcarmen even has the .190 batting average against for left-handed hitters to prove it.

Manager Terry Francona admitted prior to Game 1 that it's much more likely to see Delcarmen come into the middle of an inning during the seven-game showdown with the Rays "because of the (success) against left-handers."

"It seems like I'm always facing a lefty or two almost right off the bat when I come into a game," said Delcarmen. "I think commanding the fastball and being able to use the change-up at different times has really helped me out quite a bit. It gives me something to show lefties."

RED SOX 2, RAYS 0: RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka actually took a no-hitter into the seventh inning after escaping a walk-induced bases-loaded jam in the very first frame, and set a postseason career-high with nine strikeouts. 1B Kevin Youkilis busted out of a mini-slump with three hits -- including an RBI double in the eighth inning -- and 2B Dustin Pedroia and OF Jason Bay scored Boston's two runs in Boston's Game 1 victory.