On May 11, 2004, in the bottom of the eighth inning, original pinch-hitter Brian Daubach was called back to the bench after the Indians made a pitching change and decided to go to lefty Scott Stewart. McCarty, due to hitting well against lefties, was sent up to hit by manager Terry Francona. On an 0-1 pitch, McCarty lined a two-run triple to right field that gave the Red Sox a 5-3 lead. They went on to win by that score.
On May 30, 2004, McCarty, who had entered the game in the eighth inning, hit a walk-off two-run home run against Mariners pitcher J. J. Putz in the bottom of the twelfth inning to give the Red Sox a 9-7 victory.
McCarty also made three pitching appearances in 2004. The first one was in the home opener on April 9 vs the Blue Jays, the second one was on June 12 vs the Dodgers, in which he struck out Jayson Werth and the final one was in the final game of the regular season against the Orioles, in which he struck out Rafael Palmeiro, Larry Bigbie and David Newhan.
Release and retirement
The Red Sox released McCarty in May 2005 after the team signed first baseman John Olerud.[7] He retired and was a Red Sox analyst on NESN from July 1, 2005, until the end of the 2008 season.[8]
Personal life and death
McCarty lived in Piedmont, California, with his wife, novelist Monica McCarty, and their two children.[9] He died following a cardiac event in Oakland, California, on April 19, 2024, at the age of 54.[10][11]
