Boston center fielder Coco Crisp reaches third base on a first-inning triple as Tampa Bay third baseman Akinori Iwamura awaits the throw yesterday at Fenway Park.

The providence journal / MARY MURPHY MARY MURPHY

BOSTON — For weeks, the Red Sox have talked internally about targeting a power reliever at the trade deadline to help reliever Hideki Okajima shoulder the late-inning workload. Brad Lidge, Eric Gagne and Brian Fuentes have all been mentioned as possible acquisitions.

But with three weeks to go before the July 31 deadline, it’s possible the Red Sox may have found their answer from within. If Manny Delcarmen continues to pitch as he has the last few weeks, the Sox might be able to focus their attention elsewhere.

Delcarmen stepped into another key situation yesterday in the Red Sox’ 7-5 win over Tampa Bay. The Rays had already scored four times in the seventh against starter Tim Wakefield and reliever Javy Lopez and, with Carlos Pena on first, had pinch-hitter Jonny Gomes at the plate, representing the winning run.

Delcarmen struck out Gomes to strand Pena and stall the Rays’ comeback momentum. In the eighth, he faced four hitters and struck out two more.

Since being recalled from Pawtucket on June 17, Delcarmen has allowed only two runs in 7 1/3 innings over seven appearances. His velocity has improved to the point where his fastball consistently registers from 95-97 mph, and critically, Delcarmen is consistently locating it in the strike zone.

“He’s showing a lot of poise,” said manager Terry Francona. “The ball is coming out of his hand with a lot of movement. You look up at the gun readings and that’s impressive, but I think the reason he’s hitting those numbers is because he’s keeping his delivery intact more often that not."

Delcarmen credits increase cardiovascular work and a shoulder-strengthening program for his purer mechanics and improved life on the fastball.

“I’m building a routine,” said Delcarmen. “I felt really tired at the end of last season, but now, my shoulder feels a lot stronger.”

Delcarmen was a mess in spring training. The Sox noticed that he wasn’t breaking his hands properly in his windup to the plate and Francona, incensed that Delcarmen made no adjustments during a rough Grapefruit League outing, took the unusual step of publicly criticizing a player.

With the addition of four new relievers to the bullpen — Okajima, Brendan Donnelly, J.C. Romero and Joel Pineiro — Delcarmen and Craig Hansen became afterthoughts.

But after a brutal ninth-inning tandem appearance with Hansen in which the PawSox relievers blew a giant ninth-inning lead, Delcarmen began his turnaround. At the direction of Francona, pitching coach John Farrell and the Boston front office, Pawtucket manager Ron Johnson gave Delcarmen frequent multiple-inning appearances, forcing Delcarmen to use all of his pitches.

His fastball command got better, his curveball — always his best pitch — got sharper and the confidence in his changeup grew.

“He’s been very aggressive (since returning to Boston),” said catcher Jason Varitek. “He’s utilizing both sides of the plate better and he’s throwing his pitches with conviction. He’s driving through his pitches, which he didn’t always do.”

The turning point for Delcarmen may have come last Friday when he struck out Sammy Sosa on a 3-and-2 fastball with the bases loaded, bailing the Sox out of a jam.

That the Sox would turn to him in such a crucial situation “showed a lot of confidence in me,” Delcarmen said yesterday.

Even when Delcarmen momentarily falters, he’s capable of some self-correction. After walking Raul Casanova in the eighth with two outs and falling behind, 3-and-0, to No. 9 hitter Dustan Mohr, Delcarmen righted himself, coming back to strike out Mohr on three straight pitches.

“He gathered himself and made the pitches he had to,” said a clearly impressed Francona.

The job opening has been posted. Mike Timlin seems incapable of reclaiming the role he held here the last three seasons. Donnelly is injured.

“I think I can go out there and get guys out,” said Delcarmen. “I think they know that. I think anybody in that bullpen would like to step up. I’ve got to keep it going, but yeah, I think I can be that guy.”

He has a little more than three weeks to continue making his case.

smcadam@projo.com