Boston backs the strong pitching of Curt Schilling with solid defense and beats Baltimore again in a low-scoring game.

01:00 AM EDT on Sunday, April 9, 2006

BY SEAN McADAM
Journal Sports Writer

BALTIMORE -- The night before, they had won with a little help from the opponents and a lot of runs. Last night, however, the Red Sox were on their own.

There was no margin for error, so it was a good thing the Red Sox didn't make any. To the contrary, the Sox played sterling defense, mixed it with stingy pitching and managed a 2-1 victory over the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards.

"I'd be real interested to see how many games we won last year scoring (exactly) two runs," said winning pitcher Curt Schilling.

Since you asked, Curt, the answer is exactly: two (2).

"That's what happens when you have arguably the best defense in baseball and a deep bullpen," said Schilling, who notched his second victory in two outings.

Schilling pitched seven innings and allowed just one run when he hung a split-finger fastball to Luis Matos to lead off the sixth.

Other than that, he gave up just two more hits -- a one-out single by Jay Gibbons in the second and a leadoff single to right from Miguel Tejada in the seventh. Other than Matos, only two baserunners reached scoring position.

"He was solid," said manager Terry Francona. "It's a nice relief (to see him healthy). He's just out there competing. He's strong. I thought he threw the ball better today (than on Opening Day). And the more gets into the season, I think you'll see his confidence grow, too."

Schilling threw his split-finger fastball more yesterday than he did Monday in Texas, and true to his word in spring training, wasn't shy about trying to claim the inner half of the plate yesterday, part of his campaign to ensure that hitters don't feel as comfortable as they did a year ago.

"I probably pitched in more than any start in my career," said Schilling, who walked two and struck out four.

On the infrequent occasions when the Orioles put good swings on his pitches, Schilling's defense contributed. In the home second, with runners on first and second, Manny Ramirez sprinted toward the left field corner to snare a ball hit by Jeff Conine, hauling it in just before the wall and likely saving two runs.

"I've always said," said catcher Jason Varitek, "that Manny is underrated as an outfielder."

"Great catch," echoed Francona. "Off the bat, you look up to see where he is and he tracked that very well."

An inning later, second baseman Mark Loretta managed to pick a hard-hit ball off the bat of rookie Nick Markakis that seemed to explode at the infielder's feet.

"Those plays," said Schilling, "go overlooked because people look at how you score your runs. But to me, that's how you win games."

Schilling mixed in more breaking pitches and changeups than he did in the season opener, but as Varitek remarked: "It came down to, once again, locating the No. 1 (fastball)."

In sharp contrast to the previous night when the Sox seemed to be crossing the plate at will, the offensive chances were tough to come by against Baltimore starter Bruce Chen.

"He tries to mix in all his pitches and get you off his game," said first baseman Kevin Youkils. "He knows how to pitch. I thought he threw his slider better than he did last year. I didn't see much of that big breaking curve, but he threw the ball good."

The Sox threatened in the second when a leadoff single by Ramirez and a walk to Varitek gave them two on and none out. But Chen got Mike Lowell looking at a called third strike, Youkilis popped up and Willy Mo Pena was overpowered.

In the fourth, a two-out double by Varitek and a single to left by Youkilis produced the first run.

After Chen walked David Oritz and yielded an opposite-field single to Ramirez, Varitek greeted reliever Sendy Rleal with a double to right.

It wasn't much in the way of offense, but with the support of the defense and scoreless relief from Mike Timlin and Jonathan Papelbon, it was plenty.

smcadam@projo.com / (401) 277-7340