Schilling Gets 200th Win

One quick tip of the cap wasn’t going to be enough for Curt Schilling this time.

Long after the final out, and long since he left the game, Fenway Park reverberated with chants of “We want Curt!”

The Red Sox right-hander finally popped out of the clubhouse to acknowledge the fans -- none more excited than the son he and his wife named after Lou Gehrig. The son turned 11 on Saturday and asked for victory No. 200 as a present.

“The number’s awesome, and I’m very proud about it,” Schilling said after pitching seven up-and-down innings to beat the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, 6-4, and become the 104th member of the 200-win club.

“Just walking on that field after the game is an experience I’ll never forget,” Schilling said of his curtain call. “Those are the things that, when you’re done playing, they last forever, the memories the fans can create for you.”

Schilling (8-2) gave up four runs and eight hits, and struck out seven for his fourth victory in five starts.

Schilling, 39, wished his son Gehrig happy birthday on the scoreboard during the second inning.

Trot Nixon drove in three runs batting cleanup in place of Manny Ramirez, who sat out his first game this season. Jonathan Papelbon pitched a perfect ninth for his 18th save in 18 tries.

The Red Sox have won three straight and eight of their last 12.

*

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)

Big winners

Active pitchers with the most victories through Saturday’s games:

*--* Player, Team Wins 1. Greg Maddux, Cubs 323 2. Tom Glavine, Mets 283 3. Randy Johnson, Yankees 269 4. Mike Mussina, Yankees 230 5. David Wells, Red Sox 227 6. Jamie Moyer, Mariners 207 7. Pedro Martinez, Mets 202 8. Curt Schilling, Red Sox 200 9. Kenny Rogers, Tigers 197 10. John Smoltz, Braves 181

*--*

Associated Press