With their struggling closer on the disabled list and their ace at partial strength, the Boston Red Sox are sending Curt Schilling to the bullpen to plug a gap there and help him work his way back from an ankle injury.

"It's definitely the best thing for him," Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein said yesterday, "... and it just so happens to be exactly what the team needs right now."

Schilling has been on a minor-league rehab assignment while trying to recover from a right ankle injury that put him on the disabled list after just three starts. In what was expected to be his last rehab appearance, he struggled to get through five innings with Class AAA Pawtucket on Monday.

After a brief workout yesterday afternoon before the Red Sox played in Texas, Schilling left to rejoin Pawtucket to throw an inning in relief tonight. The right-hander left before the clubhouse was open to reporters.

Closer Keith Foulke was placed on the 15-day disabled list yesterday, retroactive to the day before, and he returned to Boston to have both knees examined and find out whether an injury is causing his struggles.

Manager Terry Francona said Schilling isn't ready to give the Red Sox the innings they need from a starter, but can help for a couple of innings.

"It's kind of a work in progress, trying to repeat your delivery 100 times, and being at his level is not easy," Francona said. "I think he can impact our club and repeat his delivery for an inning or two. ... We're trying to figure out a way to make that have an impact on our ballclub.

"I don't think anybody, and probably Schill himself, thinks he's ready to come back as a starter and be that impact pitcher," he said.

Francona doesn't know how long Schilling will be in the bullpen before getting back in the rotation, but said he hadn't expected him to start for at least a couple of more weeks.

"There is no timetable, but he's willing and eager to do it," Francona said.

Cleveland: Victor Martinez went 1 for 4, extending his hitting streak to 17 games.

Detroit: The Tigers had two stolen bases last night, giving them 20 in their last 22 attempts.

Los Angeles: A CT scan of SS Orlando Cabrera's right elbow Tuesday showed small debris in the joint of the elbow and continued inflammation, a condition that could require surgery after the season but one the shortstop will try to play through this season.

Minnesota: Torii Hunter went 7 for 14 in the three-game series against the Angels.

Texas: RF Richard Hidalgo was out of the lineup for the third straight day because of a sore right knee.

Toronto: Blue Jays 2B Orlando Hudson missed the game against Oakland because of tightness in his right hamstring. Hudson was injured Tuesday running the bases after homering in the seventh inning. He grabbed his leg after rounding first and hobbled home before leaving the game. He is day to day.

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