Boston Red Sox
Schilling is in command in second rehab start
07:43 AM EDT on Friday, July 27, 2007
Curt Schilling threw five scoreless innings for the PawSox in a rehab start.
AP / J.D. Pooley
TOLEDO, Ohio — The ending was a little hairy, but otherwise Curt Schilling’s second rehab outing for Pawtucket was nothing but smooth sailing.
Schilling allowed only two hits in five scoreless innings, striking out eight Mud Hens and not walking a batter in a game the PawSox eventually lost, 3-2, in 10 innings.
“How about Schilling — this was a positive night for Red Sox Nation, because Curt Schilling was really good,” Pawtucket manager Ron Johnson said. “His pitches were low going through four innings, and he was really impressive.
“He commanded everything he had, and he was excited about his stuff. He’s made two very good rehab starts for us.”
Schilling retired the first 14 Mud Hens he faced before giving up a double to deep center by Brent Clevlen.
“He left a split-finger up, and I just tried to square it up,” Clevlen said. “He was throwing strikes. He had the split-finger going for him, and we kept chasing it.”
The next batter, David Espinosa, then hit a high hopper off Schilling’s glove. Second baseman Bobby Scales’ throw to first failed to get Espinosa. Clevlen tried to score on the play, but first baseman Jeff Bailey threw him out at the plate.
“That was a nice play — and a big play in a 1-0 game,” Schilling said. “I was happy to not give up runs.”
The 40-year-old threw first-pitch strikes to 11 of the 16 hitters he faced. He finished with 66 pitches thrown, 44 for strikes.
“I felt good, I felt strong,” Schilling said. “I got stronger as the game went on, and I felt really strong in the fifth.
“There were a lot of good things out there.”
In his first rehab outing he allowed only two hits in three innings against Louisville on July 21. He said he will make one more rehab start for Pawtucket Tuesday in Columbus.
“It’s most important that I feel strong,” Schilling said. “My [split-finger fastball] is as good as it’s ever been, and to have the velocity makes it even better.”
Schilling was 6-4 for Boston this season before going on the disabled list June 19 because of tendinitis in his right shoulder.
After last night’s game Schilling, who has been outspoken on steroid use in baseball, declined comment on any subject not related to last night’s start.
In the game Pawtucket scored a run in the top of the ninth, only to see the Mud Hens tie the game with a run in the bottom of the ninth off Travis Hughes.
Then in the 10th, Clevlen hit a bases-loaded, two-out single to right to score Henry Mateo with the game-winning run.
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