McDonald, 30, was recalled last Tuesday and had a whirlwind week. He saved a game in Milwaukee with a ninth-inning throw, he doubled home the winning run in the next game at Milwaukee, his two-run homer (his first in the majors) provided the only runs Sunday in a 3-2 12-inning loss to the Dodgers.
And on Monday, in the matinee sessions of a day-night doubleheader, McDonald singled with one out in the ninth of a tie game and eventually bolted home on a wild pitch to end the game, a 4-3 Reds victory.
"Everything is happening at once for me," said McDonald. "When I came back up I just said I wanted to be aggressive with everything I do. Before, the first time, I was playing not to make a mistake and it seems you only make more mistakes when you play that way, you know?
"Coming back up, that's what I've been doing and right now things are working out," he added. "When you play to try to be perfect, you make mistakes. Now I play loose and have fun. If you make a mistake being aggressive, that's fine."
McDonald hit .175 in 25 appearances and seven starts, including an Opening Day start, before he was designated. Sincde his recall he is 4 for 9 with a homer and three RBIs.
"I'm sure I put pressure on myself the first time," he said. "When you work that long to get back to the big leagues and it finally happens and you are starting on Opening Day, well, I probably was overwhelmed and had some butterflies. You have to understand it's the same game on a different stage. Just a few more people in the stands."
Roster maneuvering
The Reds did some sleight-of-hand paperwork Monday to add three players for the second game of a doubleheader. They took pitcher Johnny Cueto off the DL to start the second game and they recalled first baseman Kevin Barker and pitcher Ramon Ramirez.
To make room for Barker and Ramirez, pitcher Matt Maloney was optioned to Class AA Carolina (nod, nod, wink, wink) and pitcher Carlos Fisher was optioned to Class A Sarasota (nod, nod, wink, wink).
Neither Maloney nor Fisher will leave town. They'll be re-added to the roster today when teams can expand to as many as 40 players.
Nix placed on DL
Outfielder Laynce Nix finally succumbed to a neck probably that has bothered him off and on all season. He was supposed to play in Monday's first game, but was scratched when he couldn't go.
He was placed on the disabled list with a bulging disk in his neck.
Nix struck out pinch-hitting Sunday, "But with the short night before (Monday's) day game he woke up with his neck stiff again," said manager Dusty Baker. "He has been dealing with it all year and he is a toiugh man. Sometimes, though, tough doesn't make it."
Quote of the day
Nearly eight days after his appendectomy, Aaron Harang shuffles around the clubhouse like a 90-year-old man with arthritis and when Harang spotted catcher Corky Miller imitating his walk, Harang said, "If I could lift my lift my leg, I'd kick you right in the butt."
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