McDonald to triple A - Buscher may be called up

Hot off the AP wire -

TORONTO (AP) — The Minnesota Twins demoted outfielder Darnell McDonald to Triple-A Rochester on Wednesday following a 13-1 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays.

Pinch hitting for Justin Morneau in the ninth inning Wednesday, McDonald singled for his first major league hit since May 5, 2004, when he played for Baltimore.

The Twins did not immediately announce a replacement, but manager Ron Gardenhire hinted the team will call up third baseman Brian Buscher before beginning a three-game series in Cleveland on Friday.

Buscher, 26, was batting .319 with six home runs and 20 RBIs in 34 games at Rochester.

Selected by San Francisco in the third round of the June 2003 draft, Buscher was taken by the Twins in the December 2006 Rule V draft.

Updated on Wednesday, Jul 25, 2007 4:53 pm, EDT