BOSTON -- Ferocity seeped from the bats of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim like honey from a hive last night and all Curt Schilling could do was watch.

The Angels pummeled the Red Sox' ace often and early as Schilling couldn't keep the ball in the park, and when he did, Los Angeles produced extra-base hits with ease en route to a 10-4 victory at Fenway Park.

Schilling left the game after just five innings and 88 pitches (61 strikes), allowing 6 runs on 10 hits, including 3 home runs with no walks and 5 strikeouts. All three homers came in the third inning.

"It was mistake after mistake," said Schilling, whose E.R.A. over his last three starts is 7.00 with 14 earned runs in 18 innings of work. "I was leaving the ball over the middle of the plate . . . physically I felt fine. I didn't feel like I made a lot of great pitches tonight. Every mistake I made they hit.

"It was disappointing. The one thing I've always expected from myself is to give this team innings. . . . five innings is not good."

He entered his team-leading 23rd start of the season with a 13-3 record and, by his own admission, doesn't feel like he's been able to string together enough solid starts to consider it a hot streak.

Last night certainly wasn't the outing to jump-start such a streak.

"He gave up so many hits early," said Boston manager Terry Francona. "It seemed like every fastball he threw they were ready and jumped on it. He gathered himself, which was good and it kept us out of our pen early. He got to the fifth, and even with us scoring, I just think there are a lot of starts left."

Not only did Schilling lose his first game at Fenway Park this season, now 8-1 on home turf, but the Red Sox suffered another big loss in the bottom of the third inning when Trot Nixon injured what first appeared to be his ribcage on a swing. He was removed from the game with a 2-2 count and replaced with Wily Mo Pena, who struck out swinging on the next offering.

Later in the game it was announced that Nixon suffered an upper right arm strain and is listed as day-to-day. Francona said after the game that it was Nixon's right bicep, which has been bothering him since mid-June. He's scheduled for an MRI today. Nixon suffered a left oblique strain on a similar swing on July 26, 2005, in Tampa and was placed on the 15-day disabled list.

The Angels wasted little time getting to Schilling, who entered the game 4-0 with a 2.17 E.R.A. lifetime against L.A., as the club banged out one run on three hits. Fortunately for Schilling, the Red Sox knotted the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the inning on a couple of miscues by the Angels.

The next two innings, however, were devastating for Boston and its starter.

L.A. added two runs on three hits in the second inning, including a pair of doubles and a triple, for a 3-1 advantage. Then, in the third inning, the Angels' bats did further damage.

Los Angeles not only hit, but absolutely crushed, three solo home runs for a 6-1 lead. The Angels' Orlando Cabrera led off the inning with his solo blast into the Monster seats. Vladimir Guerrero followed with a batting-practice-type homer when he demolished an 0-1 offering from Schilling and deposited it almost into New Hampshire. It was the second time this season the Angels have hit back-to-back roundtrippers.

And, they weren't done.

Schilling got Garret Anderson to strike out, but Juan Rivera added the third homer of the inning, drilling a 1-2 pitch into the Monster Seats for a 6-1 lead.

But you can never count out the Red Sox and their potent offense. In the bottom of the fifth, Boston stormed back with three runs on four hits to cut its deficit to two runs.

Alex Gonzalez led off with a single, and with one out, Alex Cora doubled to right. David Ortiz provided a two-run double before Manny Ramirez lined out to center. Pena provided an RBI-double off the Monster, and Jason Varitek drew a walk.

With two outs and two on, it appeared Mike Lowell was hit on the arm by a pitch and he headed to first. However, the umpire signaled for him to return to the batter's box, and the replay showed the ump made the right call. On the next pitch, Lowell struck out swinging and slammed his bat and helmet to the ground.

With the comeback attempt halted, the bottom really dropped out on the Red Sox.

Schilling left the game after five innings and was replaced by reliever Jermaine Van Buren, who surrendered four runs on three hits in only a third of an inning of work as L.A. gained a 10-4 advantage.

Los Angeles took two of three from the Sox over the weekend, and the Cleveland Indians are in town for the next four days.

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