Baseball

Tonight, Schilling puts a new foot forward

By wire services
Published April 13, 2005

BOSTON - Curt Schilling will have a clean record and a fresh sock when he starts against the Yankees tonight.

His bloody sock made its first appearance the last time the Red Sox played the Yankees, a game that put Boston a win away from the World Series. The stakes won't be as high this time, but the occasion will have special meaning: Schilling's first start of the season.

"It'll be good for him," Boston rightfielder Trot Nixon said.

After Pedro Martinez 's decision to sign with the Mets, Schilling went to spring training as Boston's undisputed ace after going 21-6 in his first season. But he was set back by surgery in early November to repair a torn tendon and a cartilage defect in his right ankle.

Early in spring training, he had hoped to start the opener at Yankee Stadium on April 3. But he pitched in just one major-league exhibition game and went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 26.

Now he's eager to get started.

"Good," he said Monday when asked how he feels. "Ready to go."

ADO PUZZLES LOWE: A day after participating in Boston's World Series celebration, Derek Lowe expressed surprise at the fuss he caused by wearing a Red Sox jersey.

"The jersey was made for that ceremony," Lowe said. "It was just part of it."

His sartorial choice was a subject of debate on sports talk radio and television. Lowe was handed the jersey shortly before the celebration and can keep it or give it to charity.

SUSPENDED PLAYER BLAMES PAINKILLERS: Rockies minor-leaguer Jorge Piedra , the second player suspended for using performing-enhancing drugs, told the Rocky Mountain News he took prescription painkillers to ease sore hamstrings and ankles.

"I'll take my 10 days and move on," Piedra said. "I know it's a hot topic. I'll deal with the scrutiny."

Piedra will serve the suspension with Colorado Springs of the Pacific Coast League. Devil Rays outfielder Alex Sanchez is in the midst of his suspension.

"It is what it is," Piedra said. "In the offseason, I had a few injuries and I took some pills."

CANSECO'S PROFIT: Jose Canseco got a $300,000 advance for his book claiming several high-profile players used steroids, it was revealed in court in Miami. The amount came out of a pretrial hearing for a civil suit by two men claiming they were beaten by Canseco and his twin, Ozzie , in a fight at a South Beach night club four years ago.

CARDINALS: Reliever Bill Pulsipher went on the 15-day disabled list with a mild to moderate strained right hamstring.

INDIANS: Left-hander C.C. Sabathia allowed two hits in five scoreless innings for Double-A Akron in his final rehabilitation start before his season debut Sunday. Sabathia, who would have been the opening day starter, strained his right side while warming up for a spring training start March 6.

RANGERS: Reliever Carlos Almanzar is expected to rejoin the team Thursday after starting the season on an extended bereavement leave. The right-hander returned to the Dominican Republic after his mother's death the weekend before the season began. He found out after arriving that a brother had also died.

TWINS: First baseman Justin Morneau went on the 15-day disabled list. Morneau, who was beaned last week, still has dizziness and headaches.

[Last modified April 13, 2005, 01:31:06]