McCarthy shuts down Rays for second win
GLENDALE — The following are updates on area Major League Baseball players.
Brandon McCarthy (Glendale native) starting pitcher, Oakland Athletics: McCarthy rebounded from a rough outing against the Detroit Tigers on July 20 with one of his best starts of the season, which was also good for his second win.
The local boy threw eight innings of one-run ball against the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday. He gave up a home run to Ben Zobrist, six total hits, two walks and struck out three batters to earn the win, as the A’s offense supplied him with six runs.
It was a good bounce-back game, as McCarthy struggled against the Tigers. It was a no-decision in a 7-5 Oakland victory after he surrendered four runs and six hits to Detroit in five-plus innings. Heading into Friday night’s game against the Minnesota Twins, Oakland was 47-58 and in third place in the American League West.
McCarthy’s outing against the Rays improves his record to 3-5. He’s maintaining a 3.52 earned-run average, 1.20 WHIP and holding batters to a .273 batting average with 60 strikeouts in 94 2/3 innings pitched. He is set to pitch the last of a three-game home set against Carl Pavano and the Twins on Sunday. The game starts at 1:05 p.m.
Marco Estrada (Glendale Community College, 2003) relief pitcher, Milwaukee Brewers: Estrada was called upon to get two outs in a Brewers’ 4-2 loss to the San Francisco Giants on July 23. The GCC product didn’t disappoint, as he got the two batters he faced to fly and ground out.
It’s been a busy July for Estrada. He’s made eight appearances, including four multi-inning performances, in the month. His win-loss record sits at 2-6 and he’s maintaining a 4.50 ERA and 1.24 WHIP in 62 innings of work this season. He’s struck out 56 batters and is holding batters to a .240 batting average.
The Brewers (58-49) began a three-game home set against the Houston Astros Friday and are holding on to a game-and-a-half advantage over the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Central.
Freddy Sanchez (Glendale Community College, 1998) second baseman, San Francisco Giants: No decision has been made on whether or not Sanchez will undergo surgery or continue rehabilitation on his injured shoulder. If he opts for surgery, he would be out for about eight months and may miss part of next season recovering.
In need of offense with injuries to Sanchez, Buster Posey, Pat Burrell and Miguel Tejada, the Giants made a move for the biggest name on the trading block, the New York Mets’ Carlos Beltran, on Thursday. San Francisco sent Zack Wheeler, a prospect with its minor-league affiliate, to the Mets in the deal.
Sanchez had been steady before injuring his shoulder on June 10. The former GCC standout 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.
The Giants (61-45) sit on top of what has turned out to be a weak National League West with a four-game lead over the second-place Arizona Diamondbacks heading into Friday’s action. San Francisco is currently finishing a six-game road trip with three games against the Reds, which began Friday.
Doug Slaten (Glendale Community College, 1999) relief pitcher, Washington Nationals: Slaten is set to come off the 15-day disabled list by the end of the month and it was reported by Bill Ladson, a reporter with MLB.com, on Thursday that the left-handed specialist is ready to begin a throwing program.
The former Vaquero hasn’t pitched since early June, due to a sore elbow, and there isn’t a timetable for when he’ll rejoin the Nationals.
Slaten went on the disabled list June 4 with a left-elbow injury. He is 0-1 with a 2.19 earned-run average. He’s struck out eight and walked eight in 12 1/3 innings.
While Slaten has performed well, any hopes of his team making the playoffs are all but gone. Washington is in last place in the National League East with a 49-56 record. The Nationals do have a chance to gain some ground in their division, as they began the first of six games in their division Friday.