Fregosi Manages to Beat Schilling

If Jim Fregosi were still managing the Philadelphia Phillies, he’d have a few ideas about what’s wrong with Curt Schilling.

The extent of Schilling’s recent struggles were obvious Sunday, when Blue Jay Manager Fregosi implemented a late-inning strategy designed--get this--to keep him in the game. The Blue Jays proceeded to knock him out with a four-run eighth inning and beat Philadelphia, 7-2, to stop a five-game losing streak.

“I thought his velocity was good and he had good stuff, but I think he’s cutting the ball off a little,” Fregosi said. “I think he’s been throwing too many pitches, in my opinion. He’s got what, six complete games?”

Schilling (8-4) gave up a season-high six runs and 12 hits in 7 2/3 innings, walking one and striking out eight. He has a 6.97 earned-run average in his last three starts, has only one victory since May 17 and isn’t even the winningest pitcher on the Phillie staff. Paul Byrd is 9-3.

“I’m not even close to worrying about Schill,” said Phillie Manager Terry Francona, even after watching Fregosi turn down a chance to force him to pinch-hit for the struggling ace.

After the Phillies cut their deficit to 3-2 on Marlon Anderson’s RBI single in the seventh, Fregosi elected to pitch to No. 8 hitter Alex Arias instead of forcing the Phillies to hit for Schilling. It ended up being the perfect move. Pat Hentgen got Arias for his seventh strikeout to preserve the one-run lead, and Schilling never made it out of the eighth.

“If I walk Arias, they pinch-hit for Schilling,” said Fregosi, not shy about sharing his intentions.

Carlos Delgado homered and drove in three runs, and Tony Fernandez went three for four to raise his major league-leading average to .401.

Hentgen (5-5), who had lost four consecutive starts, got his first win since May 18. Hentgen gave up two runs and three hits in seven innings, walking three and striking out seven.

Toronto was 1-5 against the Mets and Phillies on its trip, and Fregosi was 0-1 in bar fights. Fregosi was sporting a black eye from getting punched in the face at a bar near Veterans Stadium on Friday night.

“It was an enjoyable return,” said Fregosi, visiting the Vet for the first time since managing the Phillies to a pennant in 1993. “I got one black eye here, and my wife will probably give me another one when I get home.”