Did pitcher Curt Schilling paint his bloody sock red? That's what Baltimore Orioles broadcaster Gary Thorne claims he heard.

Thorne, who does play-by-play for Orioles' games on the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network, brought up the 2004 saga of Schilling's famous bloody sock during Wednesday night's game between the Orioles and Boston Red Sox.

While the Orioles were batting in the fifth inning, Thorne claimed that he had been told by Red Sox catcher Doug Mirabelli that Schilling had red paint and not blood on his sock during Game Six of the 2004 American League Championship Series against the New York Yankees.

"It (the sock) was painted," Thorne said to analyst Jim Palmer during the broadcast. "It was painted. Doug Mirabelli confessed up to it after. It was all for PR (public relations)."

Later in the broadcast, Thorne, who also works for ESPN, confirmed Mirabelli told him of the "painted sock" in a conversation "a couple of years ago."

Mirabelli was shocked when told of Thorne's comments after Boston's 6-1 victory here on Wednesday.

"What? Are you kidding me? He's (bleeping) lying," Mirabelli said. "I never said that (to Thorne). I know it was blood. Everybody knows it was blood."

Red Sox manager Terry Francona also was stunned when informed of Thorne's comments.

"I am just floored," Francona said. "Schill takes his share of shots, and this one is so far below the belt that I'm embarrassed."

Schilling had a tendon in his right ankle stitched in place so it wouldn't flop over the ankle bone in order to make a start against the Yankees in Game Six of the 2004 ALCS.

With blood seeping through his sock, Schilling allowed one run over seven innings in a 4-2 victory. Boston won Game Seven as well, becoming the first team to come back from a three-games-to-none deficit to win a playoff series.

After the World Series, Schilling underwent surgery to repair the torn tendon.

Source:Sports