OAKLAND, CA - SEPTEMBER 05: Brandon McCarthy #32 of the Oakland Athletics pitches against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at O.co Coliseum on September 5, 2012 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) Photo: Thearon W. Henderson, Getty Images / SF  OAKLAND, CA - SEPTEMBER 05: Brandon McCarthy #32 of the Oakland...  OAKLAND, CA - SEPTEMBER 05: Brandon McCarthy #32 of the Oakland Athletics is taken out of the game by trainer Nick Paparesta (R) and manager Bob Melvin (2nd L) after McCarthy was hit in the head with a line drive off the bat of Erick Aybar #2 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the fourth inning at O.co Coliseum on September 5, 2012 in Oakland, California. Cliff Pennington #2 and Derek Norris #36 look on. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) Photo: Thearon W. Henderson, Getty Images / SF  OAKLAND, CA - SEPTEMBER 05: Brandon McCarthy #32 of the Oakland...  Oakland Athletics' Yoenis Cespedes tosses his bat after flying out on a pitch from Los Angeles Angels' Dan Haren in the second inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2012, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot) Photo: Ben Margot, Associated Press / SF  Oakland Athletics' Yoenis Cespedes tosses his bat after flying out...  Los Angeles Angels manager Mike Scioscia, center, argues a call with second base umpire Tom Hallion, right, in the third inning of a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics, Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2012, in Oakland, Calif. Scioscia argued that A's Cliff Pennington, left, ran outside the baseline en route to second base. (AP Photo/Ben Margot) Photo: Ben Margot, Associated Press / SF  Los Angeles Angels manager Mike Scioscia, center, argues a call...  Oakland Athletics pitcher Brandon McCarthy (32) leaves the field with a trainer after being hit in the head by a ball hit by Los Angeles Angels' Erick Aybar in the fourth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2012, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot) Photo: Ben Margot, Associated Press / SF  Oakland Athletics pitcher Brandon McCarthy (32) leaves the field...  Oakland Athletics pitcher Brandon McCarthy (32) leaves the field with a trainer after being hit in the head by a ball hit by Los Angeles Angels' Erick Aybar in the fourth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2012, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot) Photo: Ben Margot, Associated Press / SF  Oakland Athletics pitcher Brandon McCarthy (32) leaves the field...  Oakland Athletics catcher Derek Norris, left, comes to the aid of pitcher Brandon McCarthy (32) who was hit in the head by a ball hit by Los Angeles Angels' Erick Aybar in the fourth inning of a baseball game on Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2012, in Oakland, Calif. McCarhy left the game after the incident. (AP Photo/Ben Margot) Photo: Ben Margot, Associated Press / SF  Oakland Athletics catcher Derek Norris, left, comes to the aid of...  Brandon McCarthy was hit on the right side of his head by a line drive in the fourth inning. Photo: Doug Duran, Associated Press / SF  Brandon McCarthy was hit on the right side of his head by a line...  SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 05: Former Seattle Sounders goalkeeper Kasey Keller throws out the ceremonial first pitch prior to the game between the Seattle Mariners against the Boston Red Sox at Safeco Field on September 5, 2012 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) Photo: Otto Greule Jr, Getty Images / SF  SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 05: Former Seattle Sounders goalkeeper...  SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 05: Starting pitcher Kevin Millwood #25 of the Seattle Mariners pitches against the Boston Red Sox at Safeco Field on September 5, 2012 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) Photo: Otto Greule Jr, Getty Images / SF  SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 05: Starting pitcher Kevin Millwood #25 of...  SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 05: Starting pitcher Aaron Cook #35 of the Boston Red Sox pitches against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field on September 5, 2012 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) Photo: Otto Greule Jr, Getty Images / SF  SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 05: Starting pitcher Aaron Cook #35 of the...  SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 05: Kyle Seager #15 of the Seattle Mariners steals second base against shortstop Mike Aviles #3 of the Boston Red Sox at Safeco Field on September 5, 2012 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) Photo: Otto Greule Jr, Getty Images / SF  SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 05: Kyle Seager #15 of the Seattle...  SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 05: Jesus Montero #63 of the Seattle Mariners is tagged out on a fielder's choice by third baseman Pedro Ciriaco #77 of the Boston Red Sox at Safeco Field on September 5, 2012 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) Photo: Otto Greule Jr, Getty Images / SF  SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 05: Jesus Montero #63 of the Seattle...  SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 05: Starting pitcher Aaron Cook #35 of the Boston Red Sox pitches against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field on September 5, 2012 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) Photo: Otto Greule Jr, Getty Images / SF  SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 05: Starting pitcher Aaron Cook #35 of the...  SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 05: Shortstop Brendan Ryan #26 of the Seattle Mariners fields a grounder by Pedro Ciriaco of the Boston Red Sox at Safeco Field on September 5, 2012 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) Photo: Otto Greule Jr, Getty Images / SF  SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 05: Shortstop Brendan Ryan #26 of the...  SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 05: Dustin Ackley #13 of the Seattle Mariners hits a two-RBI single in the fourth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Safeco Field on September 5, 2012 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) Photo: Otto Greule Jr, Getty Images / SF  SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 05: Dustin Ackley #13 of the Seattle...  SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 05: Center fielder Casper Wells #33 of the Seattle Mariners catches a fly ball by Scott Podsednik of the Boston Red Sox at Safeco Field on September 5, 2012 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) Photo: Otto Greule Jr, Getty Images / SF  SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 05: Center fielder Casper Wells #33 of the...  SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 05: Jacoby Ellsbury #2 of the Boston Red Sox steals second base against Dustin Ackley #13 of the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field on September 5, 2012 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) Photo: Otto Greule Jr, Getty Images / SF  SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 05: Jacoby Ellsbury #2 of the Boston Red...  SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 05: Starting pitcher Aaron Cook #35 of the Boston Red Sox hands the broken bat of Jesus Montero to the bat boy during the game against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field on September 5, 2012 in Seattle, Washington. Montero grounded out to first on the play. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) Photo: Otto Greule Jr, Getty Images / SF  SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 05: Starting pitcher Aaron Cook #35 of the...  SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 05: Jesus Montero #63 of the Seattle Mariners breaks his bat on a groundout in the fifth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Safeco Field on September 5, 2012 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) Photo: Otto Greule Jr, Getty Images / SF  SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 05: Jesus Montero #63 of the Seattle...  SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 05: Closing pitcher Tom Wilhelmsen #54 of the Seattle Mariners celebrates with catcher John Jaso #27 after defeating the Boston Red Sox 2-1 at Safeco Field on September 5, 2012 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) Photo: Otto Greule Jr, Getty Images / SF  SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 05: Closing pitcher Tom Wilhelmsen #54 of...  SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 05: Manager Bobby Valentine #25 of the Boston Red Sox looks on during the game against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field on September 5, 2012 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) Photo: Otto Greule Jr, Getty Images / SF  SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 05: Manager Bobby Valentine #25 of the...  SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 05: James Loney #22 of the Boston Red Sox reacts after striking out to end the eighth inning against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field on September 5, 2012 in Seattle, Washington. Catcher John Jaso #27 tosses the ball back to the mound. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) Photo: Otto Greule Jr, Getty Images / SF  SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 05: James Loney #22 of the Boston Red Sox...  SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 05: Outfielders Trayvon Robinson #12, Casper Wells #33, and Eric Thames #10 of the Seattle Mariners celebrate after defeating the Boston Red Sox 2-1 at Safeco Field on September 5, 2012 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) Photo: Otto Greule Jr, Getty Images / SF  SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 05: Outfielders Trayvon Robinson #12,...  SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 05: Closing pitcher Tom Wilhelmsen #54 of the Seattle Mariners throws out Ivan De Jesus #56 of the Boston Red Sox for the final out of a 2-1 defeat at Safeco Field on September 5, 2012 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) Photo: Otto Greule Jr, Getty Images / SF  SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 05: Closing pitcher Tom Wilhelmsen #54 of...  SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 05: Mike Aviles #3 (R) of the Boston Red Sox heads back to the dugout after striking out in the ninth inning against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field on September 5, 2012 in Seattle, Washington. The Mariners defeated the Red Sox 2-1. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) Photo: Otto Greule Jr, Getty Images / SF  SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 05: Mike Aviles #3 (R) of the Boston Red...
The ball hit the right side of McCarthy's head as the A's pitcher tried to simultaneously raise his glove to protect himself and avoid getting hit by twisting his body.  The longest 2 minutes of the day transpired before McCarthy got up under his own power and headed for the A's clubhouse, escorted by Paparesta and receiving an ovation from fans and players on both teams.  The A's trailed 3-1 at the time, McCarthy surrendering all Angels' runs in the third inning.  After his exit, neither the offense nor the bullpen stepped up enough to give the A's an opportunity to avert a three-game sweep.  &quot;[...] that takes precedent over anything that happened in the baseball game,&quot; second baseman Cliff Pennington said.  When Donaldson got to the mound, he noticed McCarthy running his fingers through his hair, checking for blood.