BOSTON -- Reliever Craig Hansen only threw 10 pitches last night, but his impact on last night’s win can’t be overstated.

Hansen entered the game in the eighth after Javier Lopez walked lead-off man Evan Longoria and yielded a single to Willy Aybar.

With the Sox clinging to a three-run lead, Hansen entered with runners at first and second, no out and the potential tying run at the plate.

“Basically,” explained Hansen, “I was just thinking, ‘Get a ground ball,’ the whole time. One pitch and you can get two outs — you can’t ask for anything more than that.”

As it turned out, Hansen didn’t get the double play he was seeking, but he did get pinch-hitter Carl Crawford to hit into a forceout, caught Greg Gross looking at a called third strike, then retired Jason Bartlett on a fielder’s choice, stranding two.

Hansen has not allowed a run over his last three outings, covering 3 2/3 innings.