Schilling’s blood real, Red Sox say

No paint, no ink, no ketchup.

Nothing but Curt Schilling’s blood was seeping through his socks in the 2004 postseason, current and former Red Sox said Thursday after a rumor resurfaced that the pitcher milked his injury for drama while helping Boston end its 86-year title drought.

On Wednesday, Baltimore announcer Gary Thorne said in a broadcast of the Red Sox-Orioles game that Boston catcher Doug Mirabelli admitted it was a hoax.

“It was painted,” Thorne said. “Doug Mirabelli confessed up to it after. It was all for PR.”

Thorne backed off Thursday after talking to Mirabelli, saying Mirabelli had been joking.

“He said one thing, and I heard something else. I reported what I heard and what I honestly felt was said,” Thorne said. “Having talked with him today, there’s no doubt in my mind that’s not what he said, that’s not what he meant.”

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Torii Hunter of the Minnesota Twins needed three stitches to close a cut on the inside of his mouth after he was hit by a pitch from Kansas City’s Zack Greinke at Minneapolis.

Back from the hospital after Minnesota’s 1-0 win in 11 innings, Hunter had a fat lip and a sore tooth but said he would play today when Minnesota visits Detroit.

Leading off the bottom of the second inning, Hunter was hit in the mouth by a 2-2 fastball. After gathering himself, he started out toward the mound but stopped after a couple of steps and dropped to the turf as his team rushed to check on him.

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John Smoltz is likely to spend his entire major league career with the Atlanta Braves after agreeing to a contract extension. Smoltz, who turns 40 next month, will return for a 20th season in 2008 with a deal that will guarantee him about $14 million. He is making $8 million this season.