MAJOR LEAGUE UPDATE:
GLENDALE — The following are updates on area Major League Baseball players.
Freddy Sanchez (Glendale Community College, 1998): In his San Francisco Giants debut on Sunday, Sanchez proved that sometimes you do get a second chance to make a first impression.
After making a throwing error that led to the Philadelphia Phillies taking a one-run lead in the top of the fourth inning, Sanchez returned to play the role of a hero at the plate with two outs and runners at the corners in the fifth, smacking a two-run double to the gap in right-center field off Cole Hamels that gave the Giants the lead back and proved to be the difference in their 7-3 win at AT&T; Park.
“Those are the situations you want to be in, game on the line, guys on base, two outs,” Sanchez, who was traded from the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday for Double-A pitcher Tim Alderson, but had not played since July 26 due to an inflamed left knee, told the Associated Press. “You’re not going to get the job done every time but when you do it feels good, especially after making an error.”
Sanchez, who singled off the glove of shortstop Jimmy Rollins in his first at bat as a Giant in the first inning, went two for four on the day out of the No. 2 hole with a pair of runs batted in and a run scored to raise his season average to .298.
San Francisco is 58-47 for a second-place tie in the National League West Division and is also tied for the lead in the wild-card race.
Gregg Zaun (St. Francis High, 1989) Baltimore Orioles catcher: Zaun was ejected from Sunday’s 18-10 loss to the Boston Red Sox at Camden Yard for arguing a third-strike call in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Up to that point, the 14-year veteran backstop was having a forgettable game, going 0 for two at the plate and committing a fielding error in the top of the first inning that allowed J.D. Drew to score for a 4-0 Boston lead.
Zaun is batting .248 on the season with four home runs and 13 RBIs and Baltimore (44-60) is in last place in the American League East Division.
Mark Loretta (St. Francis High, 1989) Los Angeles Dodgers infielder: Loretta made his second career relief appearance on Tuesday, replacing Brent Leach on the mound with two out in the bottom of the eighth inning of a game the Dodgers were losing, 10-0, to the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium.
Despite hitting Matt Holliday with his first pitch, Loretta retired the side with no further damage on a fly-ball out at the warning track by Ryan Ludwick.
Loretta’s only other pitching appearance in his 14-year career came on June 20, 2001 at Cincinnati when he was a member of the Milwaukee Brewers. He tossed one scoreless inning.
Brandon McCarthy (Former Glendale resident) Texas Rangers starting pitcher: McCarthy’s rehab from a stress fracture in his right shoulder that landed him on the disabled list on June 8 is progressing to the point where he had begun throwing to hitters on Thursday.
He is eyeing a late-August return, according to Rotowire.com.