Major League Update:

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

Freddy Sanchez (Glendale Community College, 1998) Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman: While continuing his fast start at the plate, Sanchez was also involved in a play of note in the field during Sunday’s 2-0 loss to the Cincinnati Reds at PNC Park.

Sanchez recorded one out in a 6-4-3 triple play that was the first for the Pirates since Aug. 10, 1993.

The Reds had runners at first and second base when Edwin Encarnacion hit a blooper into shallow left field that was caught by shortstop Jack Wilson. Wilson threw to Sanchez, who doubled off the lead runner at second base before firing to Adam La Roche at first base to complete the triple play.

Sanchez has started every game for the Pirates (4-4) so far and is currently batting .333 with one home run, three runs batted in and six runs scored. He also leads the team with six doubles after pounding out three in a three-for-five effort in a 7-0 win over the Houston Astros at home on Monday.

When Sanchez hit .344 to win the National League batting title in 2006, he also led the league in doubles with 53.

Mark Loretta (St. Francis High, 1989) Houston Astros infielder: As a footnote to the Dodgers’ 11-1 trouncing of the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium on Monday, Loretta got his first hit and scored his first run as a Dodger.

Yet to start a game this season, Loretta made his fourth pinch-hit plate appearance of the year in the bottom of the eighth inning, batting for pitcher Will Ohman, and singled. He would come around to score when the Dodgers went up, 11-1, on Andre Ethier’s three-run home run.

Loretta, who signed a one-year contract with Los Angeles after spending the past two seasons in Houston, is one for three with a walk on the year and has worked two innings in the field as a late-inning defensive replacement.

Brandon McCarthy (Former Glendale resident) Texas Rangers starting pitcher: McCarthy made his first quality start of the season on Tuesday, allowing three earned runs on five hits in six innings, while striking out five in a 7-5 10-inning loss to the Baltimore Orioles at Rangers Ballpark.

McCarthy, who is the Rangers’ No. 3 starter, did not factor into the decision after leaving the game in a 3-3 tie. His solid outing came on the heels of a four-game stretch in which Texas had allowed 35 runs.

In two starts this season, McCarthy is 1-0 and has an earned-run average of 4.91.

Texas is now 4-5 on the season.

Doug Slaten (Glendale Community College, 1999) Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher: Slaten retired the only batter he faced during Wednesday’s 12-7 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals at Chase Field to run his streak of hitless, scoreless relief appearances to three straight.

The left-handed specialist has not allowed a run since giving up one on two hits in 2/3 of an inning in the season opener April 6 against the Colorado Rockies.

Slaten has not factored in a decision this season and currently has a ERA of 3.00.

Arizona is now 3-6 on the year.