Schilling’s Ankle Needs Surgery

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The New York Sun

Boston ace Curt Schilling might not be able to pitch Game 5 of the AL Championship Series Sunday and needs surgery on his injured right ankle.


Schilling, who led the major leagues with 21 wins, lasted just three innings and 58 pitches in Boston’s 10-7 loss to the Yankees in Tuesday night’s opener, allowing six runs, his poorest postseason performance since 1993. He had trouble with his balance and pushing off the rubber, which cut his velocity.


“We won’t send Curt out unless the tendon is stable,” general manager Theo Epstein said yesterday. “We won’t compromise the team by sending out a Curt Schilling who won’t be effective.”


If Schilling can’t pitch, he likely would be replaced in the Red Sox rotation by Derek Lowe, a starter all season who struggled down the stretch and has thrown just 12 pitches in relief in the playoffs.


“If we’re not able to overcome some adversity,” manager Terry Francona said, “we’re not a good enough team.”


Red Sox team physician Dr. Bill Morgan said before yesterday’s game that the sheath that covers two tendons in Schilling’s ankle is torn, allowing one of the tendons to slip out of its groove and rub against a bone. Schilling didn’t feel pain while pitching Tuesday because he had an injection of Marcaine, an anesthetic.


The Red Sox are trying to create a customized brace to hold the slipping tendon in place outside the sheath. Morgan was “relatively optimistic” that the ankle could be stabilized.


“We’re going to take another shot at it and continue to use every medical technique under the sun to try to get this tendon stabilized so he can go out there again,” Morgan said. “We have no guarantees.”


Schilling is to throw in the bullpen before tomorrow’s third game. If he doesn’t have more success, he probably wouldn’t pitch again this year, even if the Red Sox reach the World Series, Morgan said.


“Knowing Curt, he might want to try,” Morgan said. “If we can’t accomplish getting him his next start, then he has to make a decision if he wants surgery right away.”


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