BOSTON — Manny Delcarmen called fellow Red Sox reliever Craig Hansen disgusting after yesterday’s dramatic 13-inning victory for Boston.

Don’t worry. Delcarmen meant it as a compliment.

While in extra innings with the St. Louis Cardinals, due to a blown save by Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon, Hansen was outstanding in his 1 2/3 innings of work. Mostly it was his slider, which is a devastating pitch when the right-hander is throwing it effectively, that was disgusting yesterday.

He entered the game with the bases loaded and two outs in the 11th inning and struck out the Cardinals’ Ryan Ludwick with a nasty 88-mp slider. Hansen then retired the side in order in the 12th and got the first out of the 13th inning.

“Basically you need to get an out any way possible — ground ball, pop up, strikeout — whatever way you need to get that out,” he said.

As effective as his slider was, Hansen still doesn’t seem to think the pitch is where it needs to be.

“No,” he said. “There’s still room for improvement. That’s the one thing I need to work on.”

When he was asked if his slider could get even more disgusting, he answered with a lot of confidence.

“Yeah,” he said. “Hopefully.”

jmcdonal@projo.com