SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) – Curt Schilling is ready to get back to Boston – and maybe face the New York Yankees.

But the Boston ace will have to wait until the Red Sox need him in his new role as a reliever.

Schilling pitched back-to-back games over the weekend for the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox. He faced four batters in the eighth inning Sunday, helping the PawSox beat the Syracuse SkyChiefs 4-0.

That could be his last rehab appearance, though there has been no official word from the Red Sox on whether he will be activated for a four-game series against the Yankees that starts Thursday.

Schilling threw 16 pitches, 11 for strikes, and allowed one hit. He struck out one and had a fastball that registered 93 mph.

“I want to be in the big leagues pitching, and I’m anxious to get back,” Schilling said. “I felt good today. I felt stronger than I did yesterday, which is good.”

Schilling worked the ninth inning Saturday, retiring the SkyChiefs in order on seven pitches, six for strikes with one strikeout in a 12-3 Pawtucket win.

Schilling gave up a single Sunday to Anton French. After getting Bryant Nelson to pop up to third, he struck out Kevin Barker for the second straight day. John-Ford Griffin flied out to left.

“Today was the testing point to see how well he could come back after pitching a night into a day game, and I thought he responded very well,” Pawtucket pitching coach Mike Griffin said. “I thought his warmups were very good, and he finished off his deliveries very well. I thought his fastball had good life when he wanted to let it go. Overall, two very good outings for Curt Schilling.”

It’s not clear when Schilling will see action back in Boston.

“I feel good and ready to go,” Schilling said. “If they’re ready for me to get back, I’m ready to get back there. I hope to see action, maybe we’ll be ahead by a large enough score that I won’t be needed, but that’s the hope.”

Schilling had surgery during the offseason to repair a tendon in his right ankle and started this season on the disabled list. He went 1-2 with an 8.15 ERA before bruising that ankle on April 23 and going back on the DL.

“Being on the DL is not a fun thing,” he said. “Being at the minor league level is something that I have never had a problem with. Being around the situation has a lot of good memories … for me.”

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