Schilling at ease back in rotation

Curt Schilling will leave his jitters in the bullpen when he makes his first start since April 23.

The Red Sox right-hander, who has been filling in as closer since mid July, said Wednesday that replacing Keith Foulke left him feeling "naked" every time he took the mound.

"A lot of my theories were not applicable as a closer," Schilling told Boston radio station WEEI a day before his scheduled start against the Royals. "In my mind, preparation-wise, I was kind of going out there naked. That was very uncomfortable for me."

Talking to WEEI, Schilling also said Rafael Palmeiro has "no credibility" to talk about steroids and said the Baltimore slugger's achievements should be wiped from baseball's record books. Schilling and Palmeiro testified before Congress in March, when Palmeiro denied using steroids.

"He obviously sat next to me in Washington and lied," Schilling said. "I don't know that there's any way to prove that anything he did was not under the influence of performance-enhancing drugs."

CLUBS SCUFFLE: The Cardinals and Pirates got into a brief shoving match during batting practice, prompting the umpires to hold a pregame meeting with managers Tony La Russa and Lloyd McClendon. No punches were thrown during the four-minute scuffle.

FENWAY FUNDING: The Red Sox have applied to have Fenway Park recognized as a national historic landmark, which would make renovation and expansion work eligible for federal tax credits. The Red Sox are in the midst of a $200-million renovation.

CUBS: All-Star third baseman Aramis Ramirez left in the first inning with a strained left quadriceps muscle.

DODGERS: Centerfielder Milton Bradley likely will need season-ending surgery on his left knee, which has an 80 percent tear of the patella tendon.

PIRATES: Unbeaten rookie left-hander Zach Duke said he expects to miss a start after spraining his left ankle running the bases Tuesday night.

TIGERS: Outfielder Rondell White will have surgery to repair a tear in his left rotator cuff, ending his season. Right-hander Jeremy Bonderman left the game against the A's in the fourth with a bruised right wrist after being hit by a line drive. X-rays were negative.

YANKEES: With its 5-4 victory over Toronto on Tuesday night, New York became the first AL team to erase deficits in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings to win in the ninth since the Washington Senators vs. the St. Louis Browns on May 21, 1949, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

_ TIMES WIRES