Glendale native Brandon McCarthy makes impressive return for Oakland Athletics

The following are updates on area Major League Baseball players.

Brandon McCarthy (Glendale native) starting pitcher, Oakland Athletics: Since being activated from the 15-day disabled list on Saturday, McCarthy has been as efficient and effective as ever, as he continues to shine as the ace of the A’s rotation.

McCarthy has won his last two starts since recovering from a right shoulder strain, including Thursday’s 7-1 win over his former team the Texas Rangers, in which the right-hander allowed just one earned run on three hits in seven innings while striking out five and walking none.

Oakland (26-32) took three of four from the defending American League champions to win its first series in more than a month and stay in third place in the American League West Division.

The win over Texas comes on the heels of another solid outing Saturday in which McCarthy limited the Kansas City Royals to two runs on eight hits in six innings to get the win in the team’s 9-3 victory.

Overall, McCarthy has won five straight decisions and is now 5-3 with a 2.95 earned-run average and 42 strikeouts to 18 walks.

Doug Slaten (Glendale Community College, 1999) relief pitcher, Pittsburgh Pirates: A stellar body of work in the minors earned Slaten passage to the big leagues earlier this season. The way the former Vaquero lefty has continued to get it done, he figures to stick around for a while.

With a three-inning, one-hit scoreless relief appearance against the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday, Slaten maintained the spotless ERA he has sported since joining the Pirates on May 29.

Slaten, who is yet to record a decision, allowed one walk while striking out one in the game the Pirates eventually lost, 5-4.

Pittsburgh is currently 29-27 and clinging to second place in the National League Central.

Marco Estrada (Glendale Community College, 2003) starting pitcher, Milwaukee Brewers: Sidelined since May 24 with a right quadriceps strain, Estrada was reported by mlb.com to have played long toss Saturday for the first time since going on the 15-day disabled list and was set for the next milestone in his recovery, throwing off a mound, on Tuesday.

However, a Yahoo! Sports report from Tuesday said Estrada’s recovery is not progressing as well as hoped and that he is unlikely to be activated when eligible today.

Currently 0-3 with a 4.50 ERA, Estrada has not seen action since his May 23 start against the San Francisco Giants when he injured his leg running the bases in the first inning.

Milwaukee is currently 26-31 and in fourth place in the National League Central.

Freddy Sanchez (Glendale Community College, 1998) second baseman, San Francisco Giants: Mlb.com reported Sanchez threw from 105 feet and hit off a tee on Thursday in his bid to come back from shoulder and back ailments.

Sanchez, who has not played in a game this season after suffering a season-ending right shoulder dislocation last season, is trying to work his way back into health at the club’s training complex in Scottsdale, Ariz.

“At least he’s doing baseball activities again,” Giants Manager Bruce Bochy stated on mlb.com. “That’s promising.”

San Francisco (33-25) is currently in second place in the National League West.