Red Sox hopeful Schilling can return

It's possible that the injured pitcher can return for a possible Game 7.
BOSTON (AP) -- Red Sox ace Curt Schilling reported standard soreness on Saturday, a day after he tested his right ankle with the hopes of returning to the Boston rotation before the end of the playoffs.
"I think he's having the usual after-throwing soreness. Nothing more and not much less," Boston manager Terry Francona said before Game 3 of the AL championship series against the New York Yankees. "I think probably what I said yesterday still stands: We have not closed the door on his season. But that's about where we're at."
Schilling, who led the major leagues with 21 wins, lasted just three innings and 58 pitches while allowing six runs in Boston's 10-7 loss in Tuesday night's series opener. It was his poorest postseason performance since 1993.
Red Sox doctors said the sheath that covers two tendons in Schilling's right ankle is torn, allowing one of the tendons to slip out of its groove and rub against a bone. Schilling wasn't uncomfortable while pitching Tuesday because he was injected with a painkiller, but he wasn't able to push off the mound with his right leg, costing him velocity.
Hopeful return
He had been scheduled to start Game 5, but the Red Sox are hoping that he will be able to return in time for a possible Game 7 at Yankee Stadium. New York took a 2-0 series lead into Game 3.
Schilling has not been available for comment since the series returned to Boston on Thursday.
"I think he's obviously very hungry to pitch," Francona said. "He looked forward to this possible match-up as far back as Thanksgiving last year, and when he went out there and was kind of not able to pitch like he wanted to I'm sure that was very tough for him and us, too.
"I think he kind of feels like we do; that this door isn't closed. And until it does, you keep the hope and faith and try to work hard and do what you're supposed to do, and we'll kind of see how it goes. ... If he can pitch without endangering himself and he can also be productive, you know, we would like to send him out there, but only under those circumstances."