You’ll have to forgive me for the picture to the right. I scoured the internet for a solid ten minutes before finally settling on a picture of Darnell McDonald in a Reds uniform. Maybe if I had waited until tomorrow, I’d find a picture of him in a Red Sox uniform that would be more relevant, but photographers haven’t uploaded their pictures of his first game as a member of the Red Sox fast enough. After losing five straight games and getting swept by the Rays, the Red Sox needed a spark from someone — anyone — to get their season back on track. They probably didn’t expect it to come from a player who has played over 1,300 games as a minor leaguer.
The right-handed hitter, playing in only his69th career major league game, put the struggling Sox on his back Tuesday night when he was responsible for the game-tying and game-winning RBIs as the Red Sox beat the Texas Rangers 7-6 to end their five-game losing streak. Trying to find a way to get enough bodies on the field and in their dugout with Mike Cameron and Jacoby Ellsbury on the shelf, Boston called up Josh Reddick and Darnell McDonald from the minors before Tuesday night’s game.
It looked like more of the same for the ice-cold Sox as they headed into the 8th inning trailing 6-4. McDonald then ignited the Fenway crowd with a two-run homer to tie the game at six heading into the ninth inning. In the bottom of the ninth, the Sox got the lead man on with a single by Kevin Youkilis who advanced to second on a passed ball. The Sox managed to load the bases, but before the blink of an eye, they made two out and appeared poised to leave the bags full. In strutted McDonald — newly gained confidence accompanying him — to hit a high fly ball off the Green Monster in left for the walk-off win.
Whether you love or hate the Red Sox, you’ve gotta feel good for a guy like this. McDonald has spent most of his career as a minor leaguer, dating all the way back to 1998. The biggest game of his Major League career could turn out to be just what the doctor ordered for his 2010 club to turn things around.
