Red Sox Trounce Padres

Nomar Garciaparra and Curt Schilling make the Boston Red Sox look a lot better, even though they’re not completely healthy.

Garciaparra’s two-run double highlighted a five-run fifth inning in his second game back, and Schilling pitched through ankle soreness to lead the Red Sox to a 9-3 win Thursday night over the San Diego Padres.

Schilling, who aggravated his right-ankle injury more than a month ago, pitched seven solid innings for the win.

“It’s kind of hit or miss right now,” Schilling said of the nagging injury. “We’re trying to get a hold on what it is. And it’s one of those things. It only becomes an issue when I do one thing, and that’s throw my fastball.”

Garciaparra, who sat out the first 57 games because of right Achilles’ tendinitis, was one for four and was hit by a pitch just above his left knee in the seventh.

“He said the good news was, when he got hit by the pitch the other areas didn’t hurt,” Boston Manager Terry Francona joked.

Garciaparra gave the Red Sox a brief scare in the ninth when he stumbled over second base while fielding a ball up the middle.

“I’m with you too,” Francona said. “I held my breath too. I saw it. It was kind of clumsy-looking.”

But Garciaparra joked about the play.

“Somebody just moved the bag,” he said. “That’s just going to have to take some getting used to. I’ll have to get with the grounds crew on that.”

Manny Ramirez hit a long, two-run homer, and Pokey Reese had a solo shot on his 31st birthday for Boston. David Ortiz matched a career high with four hits.

Schilling (8-3) gave up two runs and six hits. He walked two and struck out eight to raise his total to 81, three behind teammate Pedro Martinez for the America League lead.