Remaining in contention

Freddy Sanchez (Burbank High, 1996) second baseman, San Francisco Giants: The veteran is trying to help the Giants stay in the pennant race, and in contention for the wild-card in the National League.

Heading into Tuesday’s games, San Francisco (67-52) trailed the San Diego Padres (70-47) in the race for the NL West Division championship by four games.

San Francisco is currently in a three-game series at the Philadelphia Phillies, while the Padres are in Chicago for a series with the Cubs.

The Giants have been involved in their share of dramatic games this season. The team has posted 16 wins in its final at bat, which is tied with Texas for third-most by any Major League team.

A .295 career hitter, Sanchez missed the first part of the season because of a shoulder injury. He has also struggled at the plate at times during the year.

The addition of Jose Guillen and the struggles of Sanchez forced the Giants to look for a new No. 2 hitter in Buster Posey. Posey, a rookie catcher who has spent much of the past month batting cleanup, was hitting in the two-hole Sunday in the Giants’ series finale against the Padres.

Entering Tuesday’s game, Sanchez — who also starred at Glendale Community College — was batting .258 (75 for 291) with 33 runs scored, 29 runs batted in 11 doubles and 27 walks.

Despite his hitting struggles, Sanchez has been more selective at the plate. Although he has played in 76 of the team’s 119 games, his 27 walks are the most he’s tallied since 2007. That season, he tallied a career-high 32 walks in 147 games.

Sanchez had definitely not struggled with his defense. The sure-handed second baseman had a 1.000 fielding percentage with no errors in 306 total chances. Along with tallying 13 put-outs and 167 assists, he was also involved in 36 double plays.

Jeff Tully