Schilling aces rehab work
PAWTUCKET, R.I. -- Curt Schilling's pitching arm was wrapped so that it hugged his body as he answered questions about his rehab start last night with Pawtucket.
Tendinitis in his right shoulder put Schilling on the disabled list June 19, but last night he pitched three innings that he said reminded him of better days. Schilling struck out six and allowed two hits in three innings against the Louisville Bats. He threw 32 of 40 pitches for strikes and ended the night sharing the same satisfaction he felt after tossing a simulated game recently.
"There were some balls that I threw that I felt pretty good about from a feel standpoint and I don't remember feeling like that for a significant period of time," Schilling said.
Schilling's appearance drew 11,227 fans, the seventh-largest crowd in McCoy Stadium history, as the PawSox captured the 6-5 victory.
Schilling appeared to have power behind his pitches. Using the speed posted in right field as a guide, Schilling fired a pitch at 94 miles per hour.
The performance was the first for Schilling since June 18, when he allowed 10 hits and six earned runs in 4 1/3 innings in a 9-4 loss at Atlanta.
"I answered the questions I wanted to answer, and they were all positives, and we'll go from here," Schilling said.
Schilling said he has seen the biggest differences in his delivery in the last two weeks. Instead of momentum driving his pitches, he has noticed more power, he said. "I would get my arm to a point and I didn't have the ability to finish the pitch and drive the ball through," Schilling said.
Schilling threw only 40 pitches -- utilizing his curveball and changeup -- although he was prepared to throw 50. A second rehab start is expected Thursday in Toledo.
Schilling struck out Chris Dickerson on three pitches to start the game. Dewayne Wise followed with a ground single to right for a base hit, but a fly out and another strikeout ended the inning.
The fluid performance continued in the second as Schilling struck out all three batters, including former Red Sox teammate Mark Bellhorn.
Schilling got a smile out of Bellhorn after the Bats' second baseman swung at the first pitch. "I never seen the guy swing at a first pitch in the history of his career," Schilling said.
Schilling capped his night in the third inning with a tip of the cap to the fans after he struck out Wise to end the inning, leaving a runner on second base.
In the afternoon, the Red Sox pulled away from the White Sox for an 11-2 victory behind pitcher Kason Gabbard, who was called up after Schilling was placed on the disabled list.
Schilling said he does not want to rush his return because his goal is to "come back and pitch all the way through the World Series and be the guy I can be." But the 40-year-old righthander is aware of what his team is facing.
"It doesn't make it easier, but the fact that we're 7, 8 games up is huge," Schilling said. "I'm not sure our place in the standings would have changed their timetable for me."
It was the first start for Schilling at Pawtucket since 2005, when he was rehabbing his ankle.
"As much as I hate being on the DL and that guilt feeling of not contributing, I have a blast down here," Schilling said. "It kind of revitalizes you a little bit."
Monique Walker can be reached at mwalker@globe.com. 