Schilling shines for Sox

On a night when Kevin Youkilis became the first Red Sox player since Jim Rice (1978) to have eight straight multihit games and Manny Ramirez tied Jim Thome for 25th place on the all-time home run list, the biggest news in Red Sox nation was that Curt Schilling looked like his old self.

After three shaky starts in a row, Schilling dominated, striking out 10 in leading the Red Sox to a win over the Indians in a matchup of division leaders from the American League East and Central. It gave Red Sox fans plenty of reasons to smile … as did another Yankees defeat.

READY, ABLE AND SCHILLING
In the 2007 season:
	Previous three starts	Monday
ERA	5.71	1.29
IP-H	17 1/3-29	7-6
SO-BB	13-6	10-0

MOST 10-PLUS STRIKEOUT GAMES
Active pitchers:
Randy Johnson	209
Roger Clemens	110
Pedro Martinez	108
Curt Schilling	93

• Indians at Red Sox, 7:05 p.m. ET: Lefty Jeremy Sowers (1-4, 6.29) will get the start for the Indians. He's coming off his first win of the season, in which he allowed one run in seven innings to the Royals, in his last start after being winless in his previous eight outings. He'll be opposed by Josh Beckett (7-0, 2.66), who will make his first start since May 13, when he suffered an injury to the middle finger on his right hand.

• Giants at Mets, 7:10 p.m. ET: Rookie right-hander Tim Lincecum (2-0, 3.08) will make the start for the Giants. He has given up a combined four earned runs in his past three starts. He'll face Oliver Perez (6-3, 2.54), who is unbeaten in his past three starts and has allowed a combined three earned runs in that span.

• Braves at Brewers, 8:05 p.m. ET: John Smoltz (7-2, 2.58) will get the start for the Braves. He has pitched 14 consecutive scoreless innings, during which time he has given up just one walk. Ben Sheets (4-3, 3.75) will counter for the Brewers. He's unbeaten in his past three starts at home, compiling a 2.79 ERA in that span.

• Tuesday's complete list of probable starters

•  Mariners CF Ichiro Suzuki singled in the seventh Monday to extend his hitting streak to 21 games, three shy of the Mariners' franchise record set by Joey Cora in 1997.

• Devil Rays 3B Akinori Iwamura was activated from the 15-day disabled list before Monday's game against the Tigers after missing 30 games with a strained muscle in his right side. OF/DH Jonny Gomes was optioned to Triple-A Durham.

• The Reds optioned RHP Kirk Saarloos to Triple-A Louisville and recalled LHP Bobby Livingstone before Monday's game.

• David Eckstein and Scott Rolen didn't play Monday in the Cardinals' game against the Rockies. Eckstein missed his second straight game with tightness in his back. Rolen suffered a slight concussion Sunday when he collided with the Nationals' Dmitri Young at first base.

• The Angels optioned OF Tommy Murphy to Triple-A Salt Lake and purchased the contract of OF Nathan Haynes from Salt Lake. Haynes, who had played 10-plus years in the minor leagues, had a single in the ninth inning of Monday's game against the Mariners in his first major league at-bat.

• Red Sox LHP Jon Lester will throw 80-85 pitches in a rehab start at Triple-A Pawtucket on Tuesday. RHP Mike Timlin also will rehab at Pawtucket, with scheduled appearances Tuesday and Thursday.