Sanchez, Giants still sizzling
GLENDALE — The following are updates on area Major League Baseball players.
Freddy Sanchez (Glendale Community College, 1998) second baseman, San Francisco Giants: Sanchez and the Giants remain in the race for the National League West Division championship and wild card. Though Sanchez didn’t play during San Francisco’s 2-1 victory against the rival Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday, the Giants managed to pull into a tie with the Atlanta Braves for the National League wild-card race.
The Giants (82-64) are a half game behind the San Diego Padres in the West Division.
Mike Fontenont started in place of Sanchez Wednesday night and came through with a run-scoring single in the seventh inning to give the Giants a 1-0 lead.
Sanchez, a three-time All-Star and a former National League batting champion, has continued to remain hot at the plate. He had a pair of hits in San Francisco’s 1-0 home loss against the Dodgers on Tuesday night.
Sanchez came through with a two-out single in the bottom of the ninth against Clayton Kershaw, but Kershaw struck out Aubrey Huff to end the game.
In 99 games played, Sanchez is batting .288 (110 for 382) with five home runs and 38 runs batted in. He’s recorded 16 doubles and scored 48 runs.
Trevor Bell (Crescenta Valley High, 2005) pitcher, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim: Bell, a right-hander, was scheduled to make his next start Saturday against the Tampa Bay Rays on the road.
But Bell, a former All-Area Baseball Player of the Year who was drafted by the Angels in the first round in 2005, was moved back to the bullpen Wednesday after the Angels reinstated starter Joel Pineiro from the disabled list following a strained oblique injury July 28.
The Angels announced the move Wednesday afternoon.
Bell, who began the season in the minor leagues before being called up by the Angels in early May, made his last appearance Sept. 7 against the visiting Cleveland Indians as a starter. He allowed two runs and four hits in 5 1/3 innings in Cleveland’s 6-1 victory. Bell struck out four and walked three during his 88-pitch performance.
Bell’s last relief appearance came Aug. 14 against the visiting Toronto Blue Jays. He pitched a scoreless inning.
Bell has appeared in 33 games, including seven as a starter, and is 2-5 with a 4.72 earned-run average. He’s struck out 45 and walked 21 in 60 1/3 innings.
The Angels are 71-74 and in third place in the American League’s West Division.
Doug Slaten (Glendale Community College, 1999) relief pitcher, Washington Nationals: Slaten finished serving his three-game suspension Sunday following his role in a bench-clearing brawl incident against the Florida Marlins on Sept. 1.
The left-hander returned to the bullpen on Monday against the Braves after serving his punishment for his role in the fight.
“It had been a long time since I’d watched a game from the stands like a fan,” Slaten told mlb.com. “It’s good to get the suspension over with so I can get back to work.”
Slaten, who was claimed on waivers by Washington from the Arizona Diamondbacks following last season, hasn’t pitched since serving the suspension.
He last pitched Sept. 4 against the host Pittsburgh Pirates. Slaten gave up one run and three hits in Washington’s 9-2 victory.
Through Wednesday, Slaten is 4-1 with a 3.22 earned-run average for Washington, which improved to 62-84 with Wednesday’s 4-2 road victory against the Atlanta Braves. The Nationals are in last place in the National League’s East Division.
In 42 appearances, Slaten has struck out 32 and walked 16. He’s allowed 17 runs (13 earned) and allowed 33 hits in 36 1/3 innings.
