Bell looks impressive in extended relief outing for Angels

GLENDALE — The following are updates on area Major League Baseball players.

Trevor Bell (Crescenta Valley High, 2005) pitcher, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim: Bell made the best of a tough situation in his latest relief appearance Tuesday during a 6-0 road loss against the Boston Red Sox.

With the game already out of reach, Bell came on in relief of Jered Weaver, who allowed all six runs in the first five innings. Bell turned in an impressive stint on the mound to stop the bleeding.

Bell, a former All-Area Baseball Player of the Year, allowed two hits and walked two in three innings. He struck out one and lowered his earned-run average to 5.40. Bell made 44 pitches, including 24 for strikes. He retired the side in order in the seventh.

Bell also pitched a scoreless inning during the Angels’ 7-2 victory against the visiting Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday. Assigned to protect a 7-2 lead in the ninth inning, Bell retired the side on 10 pitches, capped by striking out Jose Molina.

Before that appearance, Bell had made three starting assignments. He went 0-2 and had a no-decision in that stretch.

Entering Wednesday’s game against Boston, Bell is 1-3. He has struck out 29 and walked 11 in 38 1/3 innings.

He’s allowed 26 runs (23 earned) and 54 hits.

Bell was called up from the Triple-A Salt Lake City Bees July 30 after being sent down July 26, a day after making his first start of the season against the Texas Rangers. Bell began the season at Salt Lake before being called up by the Angels on May 9.

Freddy Sanchez (Glendale Community College, 1998) second baseman, San Francisco Giants: The former National League batting champion wasn’t in the starting lineup Wednesday for the Giants’ road contest against the Philadelphia Phillies.

It marked the second game in a row that Sanchez, a three-time All-Star, didn’t play. He sat out Tuesday’s 9-3 loss to Philadelphia.

Sanchez has struggled of late for the Giants, who are 67-54 and in second place in the National League’s West Division. Sanchez, who won a batting title in 2006, is hitting .258 (75 for 291) with two home runs and 29 runs batted in. He’s registered 11 doubles and scored 33 runs.

Sanchez last participated Sunday in San Francisco’s 8-2 home loss against the first-place San Diego Padres. He went hitless in three plate appearances.

Acquired by the Giants from the Pittsburgh Pirates last season, Sanchez has performed exceptionally well in the field, having not committed an error in 76 games.

Sanchez, who began the season on the disabled list, has recorded 139 putouts and 167 assists.

Doug Slaten (Glendale Community College, 1999) relief pitcher, Washington Nationals: Slaten has been steady throughout the season as a left-handed specialist. However, he struggled during Washington’s 10-2 road loss against the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday.

Slaten didn’t retire any of the five batters he faced in the seventh inning. Slaten allowed four runs (one earned), two hits and a pair of walks. Of the 22 pitches Slaten made, 11 were for strikes.

It snapped Slaten’s string of nine straight games without giving up a run. Prior to Tuesday, Slaten last allowed a run July 20, when he surrendered three in an 8-7 loss to the Cincinnati Reds.

In 36 appearances with Washington (51-69), which is in last place in the National League’s East Division, Slaten is 2-1 with a 3.00 earned-run average.

He’s struck out 26 and walked 12 in 30 innings.