Sanchez getting job done
GLENDALE — The following are updates on area Major League Baseball players.
Freddy Sanchez (Glendale Community College, 1998) San Francisco Giants infielder: Sanchez, a three-time National League All-Star selection, continues to excel with the bat and glove since joining the team May 19 after beginning the season on the disabled list.
On Wednesday, he helped San Francisco post a 6-3 victory against the visiting Baltimore Orioles. With San Francisco nursing a 4-3 lead in the eighth inning, Sanchez, a second baseman, made a nice play on defense to help keep the Giants ahead.
In the sixth inning, he fielded a liner hit by Miguel Tejada that caromed off starting pitcher Tim Lincecum’s shoulder.
On Monday, Sanchez finished with two hits and drove in four runs in the Giants’ 10-2 win against the Orioles.
Sanchez has hit safely in eight of his last 10 games, registering multiple-hit games five times in that stretch.
Sanchez finished with two hits on Wednesday to help San Francisco improve to 37-28. The Giants are in third place in the National League’s West Division.
In 26 games played, Sanchez is batting .343 (34 for 99) with seven doubles and 14 runs batted in. He’s scored 14 runs and hasn’t made an error.
The Giants will begin a three-game road series today against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Gregg Zaun (St. Francis High, 1989) Milwaukee Brewers catcher: Zaun, a switch-hitter, had successful season-ending surgery Tuesday to fix a torn labrum in his right shoulder, Milwaukee assistant general manager Gord Ash told mlb.com.
Zaun had the surgery in Cincinnati with Cincinnati Reds team doctor Tim Kremchek, who also performed surgery on Zaun’s elbow in 2008.
Zaun, a 16-year veteran, said earlier that he might be out for the remainder of the season and his career might be in jeopardy as well. He signed a one-year free-agent contract in December with a $2.25 million club option for 2011 that the Brewers will reportedly decline. The buyout is $250,000.
In 28 games this season, Zaun batted .265 (27 for 102) with two home runs and 14 runs batted in. He’s recorded seven doubles and scored 11 runs for the Brewers, who are 28-38 and in fourth place in the National League’s Central Division entering a three-game series against the host Colorado Rockies today.
Zaun, who went on the disabled list May 21, is a career .252 hitter with 88 homers and 446 RBIs.
Trevor Bell (Crescenta Valley High, 2005) Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim relief pitcher: Bell, a former All-Area Baseball Player of the Year, encountered some difficulty during his last appearance.
Bell, a right-hander, yielded five runs (four earned) in the Angels’ 12-2 loss to the visiting Milwaukee Brewers on Monday. Bell also gave up five hits in 1 1/3 innings and saw his earned-run average rise to 6.06.
In 12 appearances, Bell is 1-1. He’s allowed 24 hits, 12 runs (11 earned), struck out 14 and walked four in 16 1/3 innings.
Entering today’s road game against the Chicago Cubs, the Angels were 37-32 and in second place in the American League’s West Division.
Doug Slaten (Glendale Community College, 1999) Washington Nationals relief pitcher: The left-hander had a rough outing Thursday during Washington’s 8-3 road loss against the Detroit Tigers.
In one inning, Slaten allowed two runs (both earned) and four hits and struck out one. His earned-run average ballooned from 1.54 to 2.84.
It marked the first time that Slaten had allowed a run since June 6, when he surrendered a run in a 5-4 loss to the Cincinnati Reds. He’s given up three runs over his last 11 appearances.
In 16 appearances, Slaten is 2-1. He’s allowed 16 hits and six runs and has struck out seven in 12 2/3 innings.
The Nationals are 31-36 and in last place in the National League’s East Division. Washington will face the visiting Chicago White Sox in a three-game series that will begin today.
