Star comes out of left field
He may not be a star, but David McCarty performed like one in left field last night. Stepping in for Manny Ramirez in the second game of the day-night doubleheader with the Orioles at Fenway Park, McCarty went 2 for 3 with two RBIs and threw a runner out at the plate as the Sox gained a split with a 4-0 victory.
"I think he sometimes, maybe he gets overlooked by other people," manager Terry Francona said of his valuable utility player. "I've known him a little longer than you guys have. He's a pro. He maybe doesn't have the big league time that some of these other guys do, but he's a pro. I respect the way he handles himself. He's a quiet, calming influence in the clubhouse."
The journeyman first baseman/outfielder/pitcher, who has never played more than 103 games in a major league season, came through when he was needed most.
The relief pitcher wannabe showed off his arm in the first inning. With Brian Roberts on third and no outs, Melvin Mora hit a fly ball to left.
Roberts tagged, but never reached home. McCarty threw a bullet to Doug Mirabelli, easily erasing Roberts.
"Fortunately, the ball hung up there and I was able to get position and take it coming in," said McCarty. "I knew I had a good shot. But it's tough to say when you have a runner that's so fast. I knew the throw was going to be on line. But you can never tell what sort of bounce it will take."
It took a Red Sox bounce, and no one was happier than Sox starter Tim Wakefield.
"That was a huge play," said Wakefield. "Getting us into that situation, first and third with nobody out, you're trying to concede the run, trying to get a ground ball double play. But that was huge. He made a perfect throw to home to get us two outs there."
In the bottom of the inning, McCarty came through with a clutch two-run single. The Sox had Ramirez (fielder's choice) on third, Trot Nixon (single to right) on second, and Kevin Youkilis (swinging bunt single) on first, and one out.
Ahead, 1 and 2, Orioles starter Dave Borkowski came inside with a 90-mile-per-hour fastball that McCarty stroked to right. But the inning ended when right fielder David Newhan gunned out Youkilis at third.
"It was a fastball running in," said McCarty. "It got in on me a little bit. In that situation, I'm not trying to drive the ball."
McCarty said it took the pressure off his teammates. "You could feel it in the air. It took a lot of pressure off the team and everybody seemed to relax and just played the game." Last night was the 600th major league game for the 34-year-old Texan, who knows his role.
"I think one of the important things, if you are a utility guy, is not hurt the team defensively when they put you in there," said McCarty, who's now hitting .237. "I think sometimes numbers can be deceptive. Any time you can contribute like that, it's a good feeling."
