Curt Schilling Wins His 200th Game

MLB.COM ^ | 28 May 2006 | Mike Petraglia

[big'ol_freeper]

BOSTON -- Red Sox batters weren't about to let their starting ace's chance at reaching a milestone on their home turf on Saturday go by the boards -- even if two regular starting outfielders were out of the lineup.

Trot Nixon picked up the slack offensively for cleanup hitter Manny Ramirez, who had the night off, with a two-run, bases-loaded double. Kevin Youkilis played a clean left field, reached base four times and scored three runs as the Red Sox beat the Devil Rays, 6-4, giving Curt Schilling his 200th career win.

"I can't really describe it right now," Schilling said. "I can't really put it into words. That's probably hard for you to believe. Pretty emotional, pretty neat."

Mark Loretta also extended his hitting streak to 12 games with a three-hit performance for Boston, which was also without Wily Mo Pena, who was a late scratch with recurring soreness in his left wrist.

"It was exciting," Loretta said. "I've never seen so many flashbulbs in a game in a ninth inning. It was almost hard to see the ball off the bat. The crowd was into it. I'm really happy for Curt. It was a big milestone for him."

Schilling (8-2) became the eighth active pitcher and 104th ever to reach the plateau. The 39-year-old left after seventh inning to a standing ovation and tipped his cap to the crowd as he made his way down the dugout steps.

Once the game was over, the sold-out Fenway Park crowd kept chanting Schilling's name until he emerged from the clubhouse to receive another standing ovation.

"I just know that walking out on that field after the game is an experience I'll never forget," Schilling said. "I'll never forget what those fans just did for me. Those are the things that when you're done playing, I think, they last forever, the memories that these fans can create for you."

The right-hander became the American League's first eight-game winner by scattering eight hits and allowing four runs over seven innings.

Nixon batted cleanup in place of Ramirez, who was on the bench to rest his back. With the game tied at 2 in the second, Nixon connected to left-center off Tampa Bay starter Seth McClung (2-6), scoring Youkilis and Loretta with the go-ahead runs.

"We scored some runs in that inning with two outs, that's always key, and then Curt was able to shut them down," Loretta said. "That's really our goal and objective at the top of the lineup -- to get on for the guys who normally drive in runs behind us."

"It was good to be out there for it," Youkilis said of being a part of Schilling's special night. "I just wish we could have scored more runs for him in support. Tampa Bay is fearless at times."

The Red Sox got to the Devil Rays right-hander for seven hits and six runs over five innings.

Youkilis also achieved a personal milestone in the game, starting in left field for the first time in his career and handling every chance cleanly. It was the fourth position for the first baseman, who had a chance to throw out Greg Norton in the second inning on a single by Josh Paul, but his throw was just up the first-base line.

"Manny just told me I was playing too deep in the beginning [of the game]," said Youkilis, who used a spare outfielder's glove belonging to Doug Mirabelli. "He said to play more shallow. Other than that, [he said] just catch the ball and throw the ball."

Keith Foulke pitched a perfect eighth and Jonathan Papelbon converted his 18th straight save to start the season, extending his Major League rookie record.

The Red Sox have won the first three games of the four-game set with Tampa Bay and maintain their two-game lead over the Yankees in the AL East.

[misterrob]

FYI

[MikefromOhio]

He needs another 103Ks to get serious consideration for the Hall of Fame, but I'm glad that Schilling got to the 200 wins.

I remember when he came up with the Orioles when I was 8 years old :)

[misterrob]

I remember when we used him as part of the trade for Mike Boddiker.

No HOF for him but no doubt he was one of the best of his era. Sort of like Jim Rice.

[cripplecreek]

Kenny Rogers is only about 3 wins behind Shilling and he seems hot this year.

[ElTianti]

I remember when we used him as part of the trade for Mike Boddiker.

I thought he was part the Glen Davis debacle

[ElTianti]

From what I read, it wasn't pretty.

[MikefromOhio]

I don't know.

There aren't going to be anymore 300 win guys for a LONG time after Maddux and maybe Glavine retire.

Some of the 200 win, 3000K guys (Pedro, Mussina, Schill, R. Johnson) are going to get some run in the next 10-15 years....

[MikefromOhio]

I thought he was part the Glen Davis debacle

He was. He was the throw-in with Pete Harnisch and Steve Finley in 1991 that brought Glen Davis to Baltimore.

[dakine]

Detroit 35 14 .714

[big'ol_freeper]

The Tigers...this year's Orioles..

Orioles in 2005-- Despite a 42-28 start, the O's finished with a losing record.

Enjoy it now cuz you will be crying like a rat chewing on onions come September.

[dakine]

ok...

[misterrob]

That was the O's. We traded Schilling and Brady Anderson for Boddiker.

[MikefromOhio]

Actually, if the 2005 Orioles had anywhere NEAR the pitching that the Tigers have, NYY and the Red Sox wouldn't have gotten close to them.

If you look at the stats, the Orioles got off to that great start by outscoring everyone. It certainly was NOT their pitching.

[misterrob]

No walks, 7 Ks. The runs came when they strung some hits together. It wasn't dominating but Tampa can score guys from first on a double and they scored another on a sac. fly. His K/BB ratio is really good this year though and although he has given up 10 HRs this year, 6 came in 2 games.

I think that the Sox will have Schilling, Beckett and Papelbon at the All Star Game this year. Ortiz and Manny will likely go although Lowell, Youk and Loretta deserve some serious consideration.

[misterrob]

RJ should be a first ballot hall of famer. He was THE dominant LHP of his time and he played on a few lame teams in Arizona, Seattle and Montreal. Ask the guys who played against him who they thought was more dominant pitcher from the left side.

Pedro and Schilling are a bit more suspect as HOF guys. I think that if Pedro can win another 30 games by the time he retires then as a 250 win guy he should go. Schilling is likely going to finish around 225 wins which might get him in some day but then again, maybe not. Still, he will go down in history as a big game pitcher in the postseason, he's won 20 games 3-4 times in his career and the sutured ankle will rank up there as a Willis Reed moment in sports.

Plus, correcting the reporter about A-Rod's purse snatch as "Kerry League" and his overt support for Bush and being a strong Christian man will not help his chances with the liberal reporters of which there are many.

[GraniteStateConservative]

With this win, Schilling and Beckett are a combined 15-3 in 21 starts and Pap has 18 saves and a spiffy .136 BAA and the Red Sox have the best fielding percentage in all of baseball. That should make for an attractive circumstance for Clemens!

He needs another 103Ks to get serious consideration for the Hall of Fame

Not necessarily. Schill is 2-1 with a 2.11 ERA in games pitched in the World Series and has 3 WS championships. Give him a 4th ring and a good outing or two in the WS, and he would go in because he'd be considered a HOF "big game" pitcher. Just battling back from that surgery on his ankle (and pitching in the ALCS and the WS on that surgically repaired ankle, knowing he was jeopardizing his whole career) might be enough right now.

[misterrob]

He only has 2 WS rings. The Phillies lost to Toronto's Joe Carter hit one out against Mitch "Wild Thing" Williams.

[GraniteStateConservative]

Pedro and Schilling are a bit more suspect as HOF guys. I think that if Pedro can win another 30 games by the time he retires then as a 250 win guy he should go.

Efficiency rating is able to combine rate stats (like K/BB) and counting stats (IP) to get a value for how good that pitcher on average would be for one "must win" game. Petey, if he retired today, would have the highest ER of all time (1000 IP min)-- higher than Koufax. The other two active pitchers above Koufax are RJ and Schill.

Using similar calculations, the following active pitchers are basically into the HOF (based on their whole career numbers-- not a one game scenario): Maddux, RJ, Petey, Schilling, and Moose (the 1st 3 in Tier 1, and the second 2 in Tier 2-- though Schill gets major bonus points for the postseason). Clemens is here, should he become active, obviously. So, we have 3 1st ballot guys, and 2 second/third ballot guys, but all are legends.

[JohnnyZ]

Pedro and Schilling are a bit more suspect as HOF guys.

Pedro already has three of the best seasons by any pitcher in the entire history of baseball. He's in, no question, even if he didn't pitch another inning. He has a good case to be considered the best pitcher ever, period.

Schilling is in now too since hitting 200 wins gets him a few more votes from rejects who only understand one digit. He's been considered an ace and one of the best starters in the game for 10-15 years. But it's the 8-2, 2.06 postseason record, especially the 2001 and 2004 postseasons, that push him over the top in the tiny little minds of the HOF voters.