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Schilling continues roll on road for Red Sox

May 7, 2007 - 12:02 AM MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- Not even some late struggles could slow down Curt Schilling and the Boston Red Sox on the road.

Schilling allowed three runs in 6 2/3 innings as the Red Sox posted a 4-3 victory over the Minnesota Twins in the rubber game of a three-game series on Sunday.

J.D. Drew drove in two runs and Alex Cora added two hits and a pair of RBI for Boston, which captured its first series in the Metrodome since a four-game sweep in 2000.

"We've lost games like today's here so often," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. "We come in here and bad things happen. This is a tough place for us. We've never been built for speed and, playing on turf, crazy things will happen, but we came out here and won the series."

By beating the Twins here for just the sixth time in 21 games since 2001, the Red Sox won their fourth consecutive road series. Boston is 10-4 overall away from Fenway Park.

Schilling (4-1) played a big role in the rare series win, allowing eight hits and two walks. He also struck out a season-high seven en route to winning his fourth straight decision.

"It starts and ends with pitching," Francona said. "Any time your starters get you deep into a game, you're always going to have a chance. We're not playing from behind a lot, and when we have, we haven't quit playing."

Boston pitchers have allowed four runs or less in each of their last 12 road games.

"We're pitching our butts off," Schilling said. "This pitching staff is exceptional. It's one of the reasons why you look at this team and you have to feel good about our chances to be a great team. Consistent starting pitching, consistent bullpen, an offense that hasn't kicked in yet and we're still as good as anyone in the game."

It is because of that chemistry that the six-time All-Star was not that bothered about the Yankees' announcement that they signed Roger Clemens, a pitcher that the Red Sox were in the running for along with the Houston Astros.

"It would have been nice to have him, but we didn't need him," Schilling said. "It's May, there is a long way to go, but I like the way this team is comprised right now. I like we were a legitimate World Series club without him, and my thoughts haven't changed."

The 40-year-old righthander was cruising through six innings, yielding five hits and a walk. However, Minnesota got to Schilling in the seventh, as Luis Castillo singled with two out to load the bases before Jason Tyner followed with a two-run base hit to right field to chase the righthander.

"I was (upset) sitting on the bench," Schilling said. "I spent six innings focusing pitch to pitch, executing the game plan. After the sixth I knew where I was pitch-count wise and I fully intended to get through the end of this ballgame but I let it slip. That's what's disappointing."

Although Schilling was gone from the game, the Twins could only manage one more run as Torii Hunter greeted Hideki Okajima with an RBI single. The Japanese lefthander then got reigning American League MVP Justin Morneau to ground out to end the rally.

Okajima also worked the eighth and closer Jonathan Papelbon struck out one in the ninth for his 10th save.

Minnesota starter Sidney Ponson (2-4) gave up four runs - one earned - and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings.

Drew opened the scoring with an RBI double in the first inning and plated Cora with a fielder's choice in the fifth, making it 3-0. Jason Varitek singled home a run two batters later.

Minnesota could have escaped the inning unscathed, but Ponson threw Drew's comebacker into the dirt at second base while trying to get an inning-ending double play. Mike Lowell then hit into a forceout before Varitek's hit.

"We had the chance for the double play, instead they scored two runs," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "That's the big play. Mistakes kill you, especially against good teams."

Hunter had two hits for the Twins, extending his major league-leading hitting streak to 21 games.