Sox pitcher Curt Schilling has regained the form that makes him one of the best in the business

11:36 AM EDT on Tuesday, April 25, 2006

BY JOE McDONALD
Journal Sports Writer

CLEVELAND -- In order for the Boston Red Sox to be successful this season, they need Curt Schilling on top of his game.

Entering this season there were some concerns whether the veteran right-hander could return to form and lead the club's starting rotation. Especially after he spent 76 days on the disabled list last year following offseason surgery on his right ankle.

So far this season, Schilling has responded in a big way, and appears back in his rightful place as ace of the Red Sox staff.

The Red Sox began their current nine-game road trip by dropping two out of three games to the Toronto Blue Jays over the weekend. Schilling, who will make his fifth start of the season tonight against the Cleveland Indians at Jacobs Field, hopes to get Boston back to .500 on the trip.

"He's been very effective," said manager Terry Francona of Schilling. "There's no reason, as long as he can stay healthy, that he won't continue to be effective. He's been a good pitcher."

Already, Schilling has won his first four starts of the season for the first time in his career. If he's able to post a victory against the Indians, it will mark the first time since 2001, when he played for the eventual World Champion Arizona Diamondbacks, that he's started the season 5-0.

"You need someone to anchor your staff," said Francona, "and Schill's been huge. Again, everybody gets nicked up along the way, but there's no reason he can't have a great year. He's a good pitcher, he's been a good pitcher and he'll continue to be a good pitcher. It all revolves around health, and his health has been good."

Schilling, who is coming off a 9-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, hasn't had the best of luck against the Indians during his career. He is 1-2 with a 3.68 E.R.A against the Tribe and has yet to post a victory against Cleveland as a Red Sox player.

The Indians, who like the Sox had yesterday off, return home after a disappointing 4-6 road trip against the Tigers (2-2), Orioles (1-2) and last-place Royals (1-2). "They are a good young club," said Francona of the Indians. "Last year, some of their guys got their veteran status. They went through the trials and tribulations of a real good year, but came up a little bit short. They are a good young team and we won't underestimate them."

While Schilling takes the ball for Boston, Jake Westbrook (2-2, 5.92 E.R.A) will make his fifth start for the Indians. The right-hander was blasted in his last outing, during which he allowed a career-high 12 hits, including six in a seven-run fifth inning in an 18-9 loss to Baltimore.

The start of this road trip has been difficult for the Sox, but their 6-3 victory over Toronto on Sunday "was big and now we can get back on track," said Kevin Youkilis, who has been filling in as the club's lead-off hitter with Coco Crisp still on the disabled list with a fractured left index finger. "We've had a long stretch of 13 games in a row, so now we can rest for one day and do our thing in Cleveland."

Red Sox slugger David Ortiz, who belted his eighth home run of the season on Sunday, realizes the importance of building off that win against the Blue Jays.

"We have to keep playing like this," he said.

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