ATLANTA — Monday night, after being shelled by the Atlanta Braves, Curt Schilling deftly avoided answering questions about his physical well-being. Yesterday, his actions spoke loudly and clearly.

Schilling returned to Boston yesterday afternoon to have his right shoulder examined by team physician Thomas Gill and was scheduled to undergo an MRI.

The tests revealed no structural damage to the shoulder. The Sox are scheduled to meet this morning to determine a course of action. It seems unlikely, however, that he will make his next scheduled start, on Sunday in San Diego.

“It makes sense to do this,” said manager Terry Francona. “The ball didn’t come out of his hand too well. He was having trouble getting loose (despite warm temperatures and high humidity).”

Red flags were raised Monday night when Schilling hit only 90 mph once or twice with his fastball and, for the first time since 1993, failed to strike out a batter in a start. After the game, Braves third baseman Chipper Jones said the outing was “the worst I’ve ever seen him throw.”

Francona sensed that something was wrong during Monday’s outing, which lasted just 4 1/3 innings.

“It was a tough night, said Francona. “I was kind of squirming the whole game. It was an uncomfortable feeling for me.When the ball comes out of his hand like it did, we need to check it out.”

Schilling, who underwent surgery for a torn labrum in 1995, will turn 41 later this year.

“I think we knew going into this start that he was not feeling like a spring chicken,” said Francona. “but I can think of about 100 other starts where that’s been the case.”

Francona didn’t speak with Schilling during the game, but noted that the pitcher’s “body language was pretty different.”

It was not known last night whether Schilling will be able to make his next scheduled start, Sunday in San Diego.

Lugo sits it out

Slumping shortstop Julio Lugo (.205 for the season; 1-for-his-last-19) was on the bench last night, one night after going hitless in the series opener. Alex Cora got the start at short instead.

Lugo was 0-for-10 lifetime against Atlanta starter Tim Hudson, while Cora (2-for-8) had had some moderate success against Hudson. Cora tripled in his second at-bat, in the fifth inning, and scored the Red Sox’ second run of the night.

“When you’re scuffling and facing a guy who’s been tough on you,” said Francona, “it just makes sense. I told (Lugo), ‘We’re not giving up on you; don’t panic. Let Cora take your at-bats tonight.” If Lugo goes hitless in his next six at-bats, he will dip under .200 for the season.

Crisp’s streak ends

When Coco Crisp took a called third strike to lead off the Boston third, it snapped a string of six straight hits for him, dating back to Saturday. Before striking out, Crisp had eight hits in his previous nine plate appearances, with five singles, two homers and a double.

Around the bases

The Sox announced they had signed four more of their draft picks, led by 11th-round selection Ryan Pressly, a right-hander from Highland Park High School in Texas. … San Diego’s Chris Young, who was suspended for five games for a fight with the Chicago Cubs last weekend, is appealing the suspension and will pitch, as scheduled, Friday in the series opener with the Sox at Petco Park. … Research by the Elias Sports Bureau discovered that when Barry Bonds homered off Tim Wakefield on Sunday, it marked just the fifth time in the history of Fenway that a 40-year-old hitter had homered off a 40-year-old pitcher. The last time came on April 25, 2005, when Baltimore’s B.J. Surhoff homered against David Wells. … Brendan Donnelly (DL; forearm soreness) is eager to throw on the side, but the Sox’ training staff has told him to wait. … David Ortiz has five career hits at Turner Field and four of them are homers. … Former Sox shortstop Edgar Renteria did not return after the 48-minute rain delay because of a stiff back.

smcadam@projo.com