Schilling had blood oozing from his ankle by the end of the match

Schilling had a damaged ankle tendon stitched up before the match, but allowed just one unearned run on four hits despite some fielding errors.

Boston's runs came from Jason Varitek's triple, Orlando Cabrera's single and a spectacular double from Mark Bellhorn.

The Cardinals scored through Albert Pujols, but his side have it all to do.

"I'm a little sore, but it don't matter right now," said Schilling.

"Hopefully, I won't have to pitch again, but I guarantee you the team believes in themselves as much as we believe in ourselves."

Fun and Games: Robbo's alternative view

The Red Sox scored two runs in the first inning when Varitek's hit off the Fenway Park wall allowed David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez to get home.

The Cardinals hit back through Albert Pujols - after a Boston fielding error - but Bellhorn soon re-established Boston's dominance with a double that allowed Trot Nixon and Johnny Damon to score.

In the sixth inning, Cabrera ended the scoring with a single that added two more runs.

Schilling's excellent work at the mound could have been undone by some shoddy fielding with Bill Mueller the main offender, but the Cardinals were unable to take advantage.