Journeyman Darnell McDonald Provides Spark for Lifeless Boston Red Sox

On Tuesday, the Boston Red Sox received a terrible start from knuckleballer Tim Wakefield. The Texas Rangers stole a team-record nine bases off him and catcher Victor Martinez, which helped them jump out to a 5-1 lead.

Boston, which has found themselves behind many times during their disappointing start to the season, had to try to battle back from a large deficit once more.

Previously, they hadn’t been able to do so, but this time, as well as in Wednesday’s contest, they fought out of a hole and proved victorious behind two replacements—a rookie and a journeyman.

The rookie, Josh Reddick, taking the place of the injured Mike Cameron, stroked a two-out, two-run double in the sixth inning to pull within two, and then another substitute made his mark.

Darnell McDonald , a 31-year old outfielder who played sparingly last season with the Cincinnati Reds and was called up by the Red Sox because of the injury suffered by Jacoby Ellsbury, pinch-hit in the eighth and launched a two-run, game-tying homer high over the Green Monster in left. It was just the third home run of his career.

A great story , McDonald was playing in just his 69th MLB game. And he didn’t waste any time make the most of his first with Boston. He wasn’t done, either, and because of what was to come, he is no longer unknown.

Boston, losers of five straight, needed a win in the worst of ways, and he delivered, nailing a Frank Francisco fastball high off the Monster , fueling a jubilant celebration in the middle of the diamond in which he was rightfully in the middle of.

McDonald rose to the occasion again tonight, determined to help his new team win two straight for just the second time this season.

After starting pitcher Josh Beckett pitched terribly by allowing four runs on two hits and four walks in the opening two frames, and after Mike Lowell, who was wisely in the place of the woeful David Ortiz for the second straight game, nailed a homer over the Monster , the .168 hitting J.D. Drew wrapped a grand-slam around the Pesky Pole in right to put the Red Sox ahead just like that.

As Beckett settled down and managed to pitch a scoreless top of the third, McDonald added to his growing legend, keeping the home run barrage going by lacing a Matt Harrison fastball to the deepest part of Fenway Park and over the center-field fence.

With a walk in the sixth he had reached base in all five plate appearances as a member of the Red Sox. He was a spark, and one the team desperately needed.

And, considering the apparent seriousness of the injuries to Cameron and Ellsbury, he will be around for a while, which is good news for a team has gotten little from their offense so far this season. And, backed by his jolt, the hot-hitting became contagious. Kevin Youkilis caught this offensive bug.

Their third-baseman, who has been one of many Red Sox to struggle, had Boston celebrating for the second straight night at Fenway Park, clubbing a two-out, full-count hanging curveball from Dustin Nippert off the center-field wall in the bottom of the twelfth.

It was another celebration for the now blistering-hot 6-9 Red Sox, and another celebration made possible by McDonald.

McDonald, the player playing with his seventh organization, and the player who, after becoming the best high-school running back in the state of Colorado, turned down the opportunity to play backup to one Ricky Williams at Texas. Darnell McDonald, whose choice to play professional baseball is finally beginning to pay off.