NEW YORK — Manny Delcarmen was trying to figure out why he hadn’t pitched in a span of four days for the Pawtucket Red Sox. Late Sunday, he was happy to discover the answer.

The Red Sox promoted Delcarmen from Pawtucket that night, and had wanted to ensure that he was fresh for their series with the Yankees, which began last night. Delcarmen took the spot of Kason Gabbard, who started and won Sunday’s game, but was immediately returned to Triple A in favor of Delcarmen.

Delcarmen had a disappointing spring and failed to make the club. His year worsened when he and teammate Craig Hansen had a disastrous joint appearance on May 5 against Buffalo.

The PawSox led, 14-6, but Hansen and Delcarmen frittered away the lead, allowing nine runs, capped by Delcarmen walking in the winning run.

“I was in a daze,” he said. “It was like, ‘What just happened?’ But I told (manager Ron Johnson) that I wanted the ball again right away.”

Since then, Delcarmen had been unscored upon in four outings, totaling six innings, leading to his promotion. In 14 appearances for the PawSox, Delcarmen was 1-1 with a 5.03 ERA in 14 appearances.

“I thought about (that appearance) and figured out, all we can do is turn the page,” said Delcarmen. “If you can’t do that, you don’t deserve to be in the big leagues.”

He’s unsure how long his stint in the big leagues will be, but it likely won’t be more than a week. When Josh Beckett (finger) comes off the disabled list a week from tonight, it seems inevitable that Delcarmen will have to return to Pawtucket to make room.

“I just have to throw strikes and leave it up to them,” he said. “I’ve got to be ready for anything.”

Delcarmen pitched the seventh inning last night in relief of Tim Wakefield and set the Yankees down in order.

Dice-K player of week

Daisuke Matsuzaka was named American League Player of the Week yesterday after going 2-0 with a 2.12 ERA in two starts. Matsuzaka beat the Detroit Tigers and Atlanta Braves and allowed 15 hits in 17 innings pitched while striking out 11 and walking no one.

“It’s a great honor to be chosen among so many great players,” said Matsuzaka.

He’s the first Red Sox player to win the award since David Ortiz was selected last summer for the week ending Aug. 6.

Matsuzaka said there is no award for Player of the Week in Japan, though he said he won Player of the Month honors “maybe twice” in his native country.

He credited his teammates for providing offensive support in both games, giving him “the opportunity to pitch at my own pace.”

Matsuzaka, 6-2, will get his next start Friday in Texas when the Sox open a weekend series with the Rangers.

Around the bases

Mike Timlin threw on flat ground, then about 30 pitches or so off a mound yesterday, his first session since being placed on the disabled list on May 3. Timlin will probably have another mound session tomorrow before the Sox further determine his rehab program. … When Roger Clemens makes his second rehab start tomorrow night for Trenton, the Yankees’ Double-A affiliate, he’ll be opposed by Sox phenom Clay Buchholz. There were rumors that Clemens would be at the Stadium last night, but he wasn’t spotted. … Kevin Youkilis extended his hitting streak to 14 games with a one-out double to left over the head of Hideki Matsui in the fifth. He later added another double. … Mike Lowell, however, saw his 11-game streak come to an end with a hitless night. … Catcher Doug Mirabelli snapped an 0-for-17 streak with a second-inning single. It had been the second-longest hitless streak of his career. … Tracy Schach, sister of Timlin, was on hand before the game. Schach is in the middle of a walk from Austin, Texas, to Boston to benefit The Angel Fund and ALS awareness and research. The walk began on March 1 and will end in Boston on June 16.

smcadam@projo.com