Schilling Shuts Down Rockies

A week after his nightmare in New York, Curt Schilling had one of the most dominant ninth innings imaginable.

Schilling pitched his fifth straight complete game Friday night, capping an overpowering four-hit shutout by striking out the side in the ninth as the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Colorado Rockies 2-0.

Schilling (8-2), crushed by a rare ninth-inning collapse against the Mets last Sunday, did more than simply avoid another one. He overwhelmed three of the best hitters in the National League with pitches traveling close to 100 mph.

"The big man showed his true colors," said Phillies manager Terry Francona. "The Bichette at-bat is one of the best you'll ever see."

Indeed. After striking out Walker on a 96-mph fastball, Schilling engaged Bichette in a classic power duel. Bichette fouled off seven of Schilling's 13 pitches and finally went down flailing at a 98-mph heater on 3-2.

"That's why we don't have any intentions of ever letting him go," Francona said, referring to the trade rumors that swirl around Schilling. "That's why other teams clamor for him. He looks a little better in a Phillies uniform than on SportsCenter pitching for another team."

It was Schilling's first start since blowing a 4-0 lead in the ninth inning of a 5-4 loss to the Mets last Sunday. Schilling stayed angry about the loss all week.

"This was a tough five days," said Schilling, who tied Houston's Jose Lima for the NL lead in wins. "It was a devastating loss. It really should have been back-to-back shutouts for me."

As it is, Schilling became only the third pitcher in the '90s to pitch five consecutive complete games. Toronto's Pat Hentgen in 1996 and Philadelphia's Tommy Greene in 1993 are the others.

"I agree that it's rare," Francona said. "But I don't think it's asking more than h can give."

Last week at Shea Stadium, John Olerud completed a five-run inning with a game-winning single that sent Schilling off in a rare devastating collapse.

With an extra day's rest because of an off-day this week, Schilling showed no lingering effects. After Castilla led off the seventh with a hard double over Bobby Abreu's head in right, Schilling froze Todd Helton and Jeff Reed with sizzling fastballs the kissed the outside corner.

Then, the unbelievable ninth.

"I had a ton left," said Schilling, who retired 22 of the last 24 batters.

Schilling had been throwing in the 92-93 mph range most of the game before rearing back for his hardest stuff when he needed it most.

"He's just a horse, man," said Bichette, in a 1-for-23 slump that Schilling certainly didn't help. "He throws harder as he goes. I'm glad it's only nine innings."

Abreu drove in the only two runs with a bases-loaded, two-out double in the first as the Phillies snapped a three-game losinstreak and avoided falling below .500 for the first time since May 3.

Brian Bohanon (6-3) allowed two runs and four hits in seven innings with four walks and four strikeouts. Walker, second in the league in batting, was 1-for-4 with a single and two strikeouts.

Schilling was in trouble in the second when Castilla singled and Helton doubled before Chris Petersen walked with two outs. But Schilling struck out Bohanon to end the threat for the inning and the evening.

Schilling retired the next 12 batters before Walker singled to right with two outs in the sixth. As Walker stepped into the box, a fan ran onto the field and eluded security guards for several minutes before finally getting caught. As the chase was on, Schilling stood on the mound with his hands on his hips, obviously miffed that his rhythm had been broken.

Nothing could break Schilling's concentration; not even the prospect of Francona taking him out if Bichette had gotten on base in the ninth.

"If Bichette gets on, he's coming out," Francona said.

"Luckily, he didn't," Schilling said with a smile.

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