The Red Sox’ Julio Lugo scores as the ball pops away from Angels catcher Mike Napoli during the eighth inning of last night’s game at Angel Stadium. Boston completed a three-game sweep.

The (RIVERSIDE, CAlif.) Press-Enterprise / Silvia Flores

ANAHEIM, Calif. — In another time, and in another sport, Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling could have been legendary quarterback Joe Namath.

Namath predicted an improbable New York Jets victory over the Baltimore Colts in the third NFL vs. AFL world championship game in 1969. Fast forward to Saturday, when Schilling said he had to be perfect to beat the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in order to give the Red Sox a chance to advance to the ALCS.

He said he would win.

And he did.

Boston’s veteran right-hander made good on his promise yesterday as he helped the Red Sox to a 9-1 victory over the Angels to sweep the ALDS at Angel Stadium. Schilling worked out of earlier jams and finished seven scoreless innings, allowing just six hits, walking one and striking out four.

“He carved up both sides of the plate,” said Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein. “He was an artist out there and it was fun to watch. It can be mentally draining to know you’ve got to be perfect, but he was pretty close.”

Schilling had plenty of time to think about yesterday’s outing since he hadn’t pitched in 12 days. The club decided to skip his final regular-season start in order to set him up for Game Three of the ALDS, and possibly Game One of the ALCS. The rest obviously helped yesterday.

“He’s played this game long enough and he knows what he wants to accomplish out there,” said Red Sox outfielder J.D. Drew. “It’s fun to watch. He threw a great game for us today. It’s one of those games that you really want to win. We can go back (to Boston) with home-field advantage, and Curt came out and clinched it for us today.”

Red Sox manager Terry Francona agreed that Schilling thrives on the big stage.

“That’s why he’s here,” he said. “That’s why Theo went and tried to get him four years ago. Even back when he was bleeding all over his sock, I never, for one minute, didn’t think he would find a way to win a game. That’s probably not fair, but that’s the way we feel. There’s a reason he’s been pitching so long and so well and has done what he’s done. It’s not always perfect, but you have to find a way to will yourself to be good, and he can certainly do that . . . He certainly rose to the occasion. He had a long layoff, but he prepared very well.”

The Angels could muster only six hits off Schilling, who improved to 9-2 for his career in the postseason to go along with the all-time best playoff winning percentage of .818. When Anaheim was able to get something going, he stifled any offensive threat. He left the Angels stranded with the bases loaded in the third inning and kept a runner at third in the seventh.

“There were a couple of points in this game where I felt like the game was on the line, and that was absolutely one of them,” said Schilling of his strikeout of the Angels’ Mike Napoli in the seventh inning.

Ironically, Schilling mainly spoke on Saturday about his transformation from a power pitcher to a finesse one. He spoke about how the adrenaline of pitching in October really gets him going, and that he loves to pitch on the big stage. After the victory, however, he was a little more humble and gave credit to everyone else.

“He’s built his own legend by what he did a few years ago,” said Red Sox reliever Mike Timlin. “They gave him a couple of extra days off and he came out here with a plan and he executed it. He stepped up. He’s not the Curt Schilling he used to be, but he’s pitching now. When he started pitching, he began to keep guys off kilter, and he does a great job.”

Schilling told his teammates on Saturday that if they gave him a two-run cushion, he would do the rest. He wasn’t the only prognosticator. Red Sox slugger David Ortiz said he was going to hit a home run, and he came through in a big way at a crucial time.

The game was a stalemate when Ortiz stepped into the batter’s box in the fourth inning and quickly provided a solo home run to give the Red Sox a 1-0 lead. Teammate Manny Ramirez followed with another solo homer for a 2-0 advantage, and Schilling kept his word.

With that two-run cushion, he allowed just two hits over the next three innings before the Red Sox blasted Angels pitching for seven runs in the eighth inning. That meant Schilling was done for the day and relievers Hideki Okajima and Eric Gagne closed it out.

It ended up being an offensive barrage for the Red Sox, but Schilling did exactly what he needed to do. “He’s a big-game pitcher, and that’s what he does,” said Red Sox rookie second baseman Dustin Pedroia. “He comes out with a plan and executes it. That’s why he’s so successful. I’m just so happy for everybody.”

Schilling and fellow Red Sox pitcher Josh Beckett had a friendly bet going. The veteran was quite impressed with Beckett’s Game One complete-game four-hitter performance, so Schilling said he would top the feat. He wasn’t quite that good, but good enough.

“I’m excited,” said Beckett. “I don’t know what else to say. It’s great to be a part of something like this. . . I want him to win every one of his starts. It’s one of those deals where you have to go out and execute pitches, and that’s what he did today and that’s what I did a few days ago.”

As Schilling was drinking the celebratory champagne in the clubhouse with his teammates following the victory, he quoted a Wil Ferrell movie: “Once it hits your lips, it tastes so good.”

Schilling has enjoyed so many moments like he did yesterday, that his lips must be numb from talking, drinking and pitching a good game.

Namath would be proud.

jmcdonal@projo.com