Sanchez still deciding on surgery
GLENDALE — The following are updates on area Major League Baseball players.
Freddy Sanchez (Glendale Community College, 1998) second baseman, San Francisco Giants: Despite not having Sanchez, a former National League batting champion and All-Star in the lineup since June 10 when he suffered a dislocated right shoulder diving for a ground ball, the defending-champion Giants remain in first place in the National League’s West Division.
San Francisco would like to have Sanchez in the lineup, but is in a holding pattern.
Sanchez and the Giants (57-42) are still waiting to find out if he will return this season. According to the San Jose Mercury News, Sanchez and San Francisco aren’t any closer to reaching a decision as to whether Sanchez will undergo surgery or continue rehabilitation in Arizona.
“We’ve got to decide in the next week or two,” Giants trainer Dave Groeschner told the Mercury News on Saturday.
Sanchez opted not to have surgery shortly after the injury occurred and chose rehabbing the shoulder in the chance of him returning to the lineup.
San Francisco General Manager Brian Sabean had a backup plan in case Sanchez doesn’t return, acquiring second baseman Jeff Keppinger from the Houston Astros on Tuesday.
If Sanchez has surgery, he would need about eight months to recover, Groeschner told the Mercury News. He might miss part of next season while recovering, though he’s reportedly been taking batting practice in an indoor cage and playing catch.
Sanchez is batting .289 (69 for 239) with three home runs and 24 runs batted in this season. In 60 games, he’s recorded 15 doubles and scored 21 runs. He sports a .988 fielding percentage.
Brandon McCarthy (Glendale native) starting pitcher, Oakland Athletics: McCarthy struggled in his most recent start, giving up four runs and six hits in five-plus innings against the host Detroit Tigers on Wednesday. The right-hander received a no-decision, as Oakland went on to register a 7-5 victory.
McCarthy faced 22 batters and threw 85 pitches, including 57 for strikes before being relieved by Joey Devine. He struck out four.
McCarthy said he had trouble adjusting to the weather conditions, as the heat index reached 99 degrees.
“I’ve never felt like that before,” McCarthy told the Associated Press. “It was like pitching while wearing a heavy blanket. I never got comfortable.”
McCarthy won his previous start against the visiting Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on July 15. He allowed two runs on six hits in 5 1/3 innings in Oakland’s 5-3 win. He finished with a season-high seven strikeouts.
In his previous nine starts, McCarthy was 0-5 with a 4.14 earned-run average.
“I’m not shy with how much I hate the win-loss stat … but it’s just nice to get us a win again,” McCarthy told the Associated Press after beating the Angels.
McCarthy is 2-5 with a 3.74 ERA and has struck out 57 and walked 14 in 86 2/3 innings.
Oakland (43-55) is in third place in the American League’s West Division entering the start of a three-game road series against the New York Yankees beginning today.
Marco Estrada (Glendale Community College, 2003) relief pitcher, Milwaukee Brewers: Estrada, a right-hander, has received plenty of work throughout July. Entering Thursday night’s road game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Estrada has made seven appearances since July 2. He’s 1-1 in that stretch.
On July 8 against the visiting Cincinnati Reds, Estrada pitched a scoreless ninth inning to keep the Brewers within shouting distance. Estrada eventually picked up the win when the Brewers scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth to net an 8-7 victory.
Estrada’s fortunes turned July 9 against the Reds. He surrendered five runs (two earned) in the 10th inning in an 8-4 defeat against the Reds. He allowed six hits.
Estrada last pitched two innings of scoreless relief Tuesday in Milwaukee’s 11-3 win against Arizona. He struck out four of the six batters he faced.
Entering Thursday’s game, Estrada is 2-6 with a 4.55 earned-run average. He’s struck out 56 and walked 23 in 61 1/3 innings for the Brewers, who are 53-46 and in first place in the National League’s Central Division.
Milwaukee will next face the San Francisco Giants in a three-game series beginning today.
Doug Slaten (Glendale Community College, 1999) relief pitcher, Washington Nationals: The left-handed specialist remains on the disabled list. He went on the disabled list June 4 with a left-elbow injury. Slaten is 0-1 with a 2.19 earned-run average. He’s struck out eight and walked eight in 12 1/3 innings.
It wasn’t clear when Slaten, who last pitched June 3 against the Arizona Diamondbacks, would return.
The Nationals, who begin a three-game road series today against the Los Angeles Dodgers, are 48-50 and in fourth place in the National League’s East Division.
