01:00 AM EDT on Thursday, April 20, 2006

BY STEVEN KRASNER and PAUL KENYON
Journal Sports Writers

BOSTON -- As impressive as his career has been, Curt Schilling did something new last night.

The Sox pitcher won for the fourth time in as many starts in the 9-1 rout over Tampa Bay, marking the first time he has ever won each of his first four starts. Schilling has started 4-0 before (in 1995 with Philadelphia and in 2001 with Arizona, when he went 5-0), but in each of those seasons he had no-decisions mixed in with his victories.

Schilling was able to rest after six innings, his shortest outing of the season. He matched his season-high with seven strikeouts and in the process tied Jim Bunning for 15th on the all-time list with 2,855. The six hits Schilling allowed is the most he has given up this season. It also was the third straight outing in which he has allowed only one run.

Schilling feels he is pitching as well as he ever has. Terry Francona, who also managed him in Philadelphia, said he has noticed at least one difference -- that Schilling is more willing to go inside this season, as he did a number of times last night.

"In Philadelphia, it was fastball away," Francona said. "Now he can spread the plate a little more."

Last night was only ordinary for Schilling.

"They ran his pitch count (108) up pretty high, but when we have a lead like that it is nice," Francona said. "He could have gone out for another inning, but there just doesn't seem a reason to do that on a night like that."

Schilling will take victory No. 4.

"To play on this team, with this offense, I'm going to win a lot of games on bad days," he said.

Stern headed to Pawtucket

Adam Stern was fully aware yesterday that his days in the big leagues, at least for now, might be coming to an end soon.

Stern knew by staying on Boston's roster yesterday he had fulfilled his Rule V requirements, and thus could be optioned to Pawtucket, where the promising outfielder will be able to get consistent at-bats, a necessary ingredient to his full development, said Francona.

And he was right.

While Francona said after last night's game that no move would be announced until today, Stern let the cat out of the bag, telling the media that he was told he was being sent down to Pawtucket. He said he expected to join the PawSox on Saturday, when they open a homestand against Buffalo at McCoy Stadium.

It's likely the Sox will recall Willie Harris from Pawtucket to take Stern's place as the fourth outfielder with center fielder Coco Crisp still on the disabled list (fractured left index finger).

Stern, 26, who made a spectacular wall-banging catch in left-center in the sixth inning last night, said he "fully understood" the decision.

"I'm not going to sulk or be a baby," he said. "I'll suck it up. I realize why they're doing this. You've got to play. You don't want to be a young outfielder and be the fourth outfielder and not get many at-bats.

"Any time you go down, it's tough. You want to stay here. But I know I need to play. I just want to go down there and put up some numbers and see what happens."

Crisp optimistic

Crisp had his injured finger reexamined yesterday. And while the x-rays weren't all that clear, he said he can tell healing has taken place.

The team doctors are going to fit him with a more flexible splint tomorrow, which is a step in the right direction. Crisp will stay in Boston when the team leaves after tonight's game for a road trip so he can continue working out with rehab coordinator Scott Waugh.

It's been done

The shift the Devil Rays put on for David Ortiz Tuesday night, with four outfielders, including the third baseman, is not unprecedented. The Royals' manager, Whitey Herzog, did the same thing for Jim Rice in a game at Fenway Park on May 8, 1978, moving third baseman Jerry Terrell to left field, with left fielder Tom Poquette, center fielder Amos Otis and right fielder Al Cowens also stationed in the outfield. Rice went 1-for-2 against the shift.

Around the bases

David Riske (back) will go with the Sox on their nine-game road trip, which begins tomorrow night in Toronto, and start throwing again. He's eligible to come off the DL today, but he isn't ready. . . . The Red Sox will have two picks in this year's draft (June 6-7) of first-year players, Nos. 27 and 28, the second of which is a compensation pick for the Yankees' signing of Johnny Damon. . . . The Devil Rays' Carl Crawford was scratched from the lineup because of a sore shoulder, the result of a failed diving attempt to snatch Manny Ramirez's double down the left-field line in the third inning Thursday night.

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

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