Schilling’s Role Limited

The Boston Red Sox traded for Curt Schilling last winter in large part because the veteran right-hander thrived against the New York Yankees in the 2001 World Series, starting Games 1, 4 and 7 for Arizona and going 1-0 with a 1.69 earned-run average, striking out 26 and walking two in 21 1/3 innings.

But Schilling will be limited to two starts in the American League championship series that starts Tuesday night in New York because of tendinitis in his right ankle, a condition he aggravated in Game 1 of the American League division series against the Angels.

Because of Schilling’s ankle -- and the fact that pitchers who start on three days’ rest in the post-season are 7-20 since 1999 -- Manager Terry Francona will use a four-man rotation against the Yankees -- Schilling, Pedro Martinez, Bronson Arroyo and knuckleballer Tim Wakefield.

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Yankee closer Mariano Rivera has traveled to his native Panama after two relatives were killed at his home outside Panama City, but he is expected to return in time for Game 1 against Boston.

According to reports, Victor Dario Avila and his 14-year-old son died Saturday while cleaning Rivera’s pool in Puerto Caimito. The teenager, also named Victor Dario Avila, was electrocuted and his father also was electrocuted while trying to save him.

The Avilas were cousins of Rivera’s wife, Clara.

-- Mike DiGiovanna and Tim Brown