Ace holds Yanks to 2 runs as Sox lead by 4 games in their division

01:00 AM EDT on Sunday, September 11, 2005

BY SEAN McADAM
Journal Sports Writer

NEW YORK -- At this point in the year, it's a risky proposition to separate personal performance from team play. Three weeks remain in the regular season, and though they sit atop the American League East, the Red Sox are guaranteed nothing, and must first concentrate on qualifying for the postseason if they're to successfully defend their championship.

But yesterday, on a perfect baseball afternoon in the most famous of settings, the final score -- Red Sox 9, Yankees 2 -- nearly became the subtext. Sure, the Sox needed a win to re-establish their four-game A.L. East lead over the second-place Yanks, who were understandably buoyed by their victory in the series opener Friday night.

But in the big picture, the work of Curt Schilling may have been more rewarding than the outcome itself. As if turning back the clock to last October, when he beat the Yankees on a temporarily-repaired ankle in Game 6 of the ALCS, Schilling was again magical.

He established his fastball to both

sides of the plate. He commanded his darting split-finger fastball with precision. He pitched eight innings, his longest outing this season.

In short, he was Curt Schilling again, a welcome sight for the Sox with October on the horizon.

Terry Francona fumbled for the right context into which he could place Schilling's outing. He understood it presented no assurances for next month, or even next time. But he also knew what it could mean.

"He's got a chance now," said Francona, "to be himself."

It's no stretch to suggest that the Schilling on display yesterday -- eight innings, two runs, five hits, two walks, six strikeouts -- was what the Sox had been waiting for since his tenuous starts in April. There had been hints that he was nearing this level as recently as last Monday, when he faced the White Sox.

But not until yesterday did they see him dominate hitters. Using just 17 pitches through the first two innings, Schilling retired the first eight hitters he faced before he dropped a feed from John Olerud at first, enabling Matt Lawton to reach with two out in the third.

Through six innings, the only hit off him was an upper-deck homer to right with the bases empty by Jason Giambi in the fourth.

"I didn't feel any different" than in recent starts, insisted Schilling. "But I used all my pitches and got outs with all of them. I didn't feel any better, but it was a case of performance and confidence, kind of a chicken-and-egg thing."

The biggest improvement was in his split, which, in Francona's words, Schilling "stayed on top of more and had the same release point as his fastball more often than not."

"For the most part," agreed Schilling, ever the perfectionist, "my split was better."

Just ask Ruben Sierra, who went fishing for the splitter on strike three in three consecutive at-bats. Schilling said he "made adjustments and got advice" on improving his splitter. He heard from former Yankee Tommy John and others, whom he declined to identify.

That he mostly shut down a solid Yankee lineup was satisfying.

"This is as good a hitting team as I'm going to face," said Schilling, who won as a starter for the first time since April 18 and came into the game 9-3 with a 7.29 E.R.A. since rejoining the rotation on Aug. 25.

His effort also reclaimed some momentum for the Sox, who could have faced a possible must-win scenario today to avoid a sweep.

"I knew coming into the series that I could either put a 'six' up (in the standings) or they could be within two," Schilling. "It was a big swing game."

It was big swing game for the Red Sox offense, which re-asserted itself, first off starter Shawn Chacon, then continued to beat-down against the bullpen.

A two-run homer from Manny Ramirez in the first gave them a 2-0 lead four batters in and Olerud's solo shot in the fourth extended the margin to 3-0. Three singles later, the Sox had the bases full with no outs and, taking no chances, Joe Torre lifted Chacon.

Felix Rodriguez got Edgar Renteria on a comebacker, but his throw home was low and wild and catcher John Flaherty had to make a nice backhand stab to get the force at home.

Next up was Al Leiter, who got David Ortiz on a flyout to left, only to have it misplayed by the usually surehanded Hideki Matsui. Ramirez added an RBI-single to right and Trot Nixon followed with two-run single up the middle.

Still, Schilling was the story.

"Having him back in the rotation, pitching like this, is big," said Jason Varitek.

And a long time coming.