PHILADELPHIA - Manny Delcarmen yesterday continued his stretch of strong outings.

The right-hander, inheriting a seventh-inning mess from Craig Hansen, walked the first batter he faced. But then, with runners at first and second and none out and the Sox on top, 7-4, Delcarmen mowed down three members of the Phillies’ vaunted offense.

He retired Shane Victorino (popup to second), Chase Utley (liner to left) and power-packed Ryan Howard (strikeout).

Delcarmen’s whiff of Howard was impressive. He got Howard to chase a 78-mph curveball in the dirt, making the count 1 and 2. Then he blew a 96-mph fastball on the outside corner past Howard’s belated swing.

Delcarmen worked a spotless eighth, and now has given up only two runs over his last 16 outings, totaling 18 innings, an earned-run average of 1.00, lowering his overall mark to 3.56, from 7.30.

skrasner@projo.com