Francona summoned McCarty to pitch the sixth and seventh innings. McCarty retired the first five batters before Roberts hit his team-record 50th double, but the left-hander worked out of the jam by striking out David Newhan.
McCarty also struck out Rafael Palmeiro and Larry Bigbie.
"I knew coming into the weekend series that we might be a little short of pitching with the doubleheader (on Saturday)," McCarty said. "We didn't want to burn anybody out going into the playoffs. It's something we worked at all year, so I was ready for it."
His finest moment was striking out Palmeiro, a member of the 500-home run club and owner of 2,922 hits.
"It's a thrill striking anybody out," McCarty said, "but somebody of that caliber, yeah."
McCarty also struck out Rafael Palmeiro and Larry Bigbie.
"I knew coming into the weekend series that we might be a little short of pitching with the doubleheader (on Saturday)," McCarty said. "We didn't want to burn anybody out going into the playoffs. It's something we worked at all year, so I was ready for it."
His finest moment was striking out Palmeiro, a member of the 500-home run club and owner of 2,922 hits.
"It's a thrill striking anybody out," McCarty said, "but somebody of that caliber, yeah."
