GLENDALE — The following are updates on area Major League Baseball players.
Freddy Sanchez (Glendale Community College, 1998) Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman: Sanchez, a two-time All-Star selection and the 2006 National League batting champion, saw the Pirates trade two more of their players Tuesday in Eric Hinske and Nyjer Morgan.
While it’s not likely that Sanchez will be traded any time soon, he’s still continuing to put up impressive numbers for the Pirates.
Sanchez had a team-high three hits and drove in two runs Tuesday night to propel host Pittsburgh to a 3-0 victory against the Chicago Cubs. Sanchez, who took part in the All-Star Game in 2006 and 2007, scored a run in the fourth inning. He had a run-scoring single in the fifth and then drove in another run with a double in the seventh to cap the scoring and help the Pirates (36-41) snap a two-game losing streak.
Entering today’s game against Chicago, Sanchez is batting .315 (94 for 298) with six home runs and 33 runs batted in. He’s recorded 25 doubles and scored 41 runs.
The Pirates are in last place in the Central Division.
Gregg Zaun (St. Francis High, 1989) Baltimore Orioles catcher: Zaun and the Orioles have fallen on hard times of late. Baltimore entered Tuesday’s game against the visiting Boston Red Sox at 34-42 and in last place in the competitive American League East Division.
However, Zaun did collect three hits, including a solo home run, to help spark the Orioles to a 6-3 win against the visiting Washington Nationals on Saturday. He homered in the second inning to cut Washington’s lead to 2-1. He later added singles in the sixth and eighth.
Mark Loretta (St. Francis High, 1989) Los Angeles Dodgers infielder: The two-time All-Star saw his modest three-game hitting streak come to a close Monday in the Dodgers’ 4-2 home victory against the Colorado Rockies. Loretta, who did not start in the contest, entered the game as a pinch hitter and grounded out to end the seventh.
Loretta, who was signed as a free agent from the Houston Astros last winter, has hit safely in five of his last 10 games.
Entering Tuesday’s game against the Rockies, Loretta was batting .261 (24 for 92) with five doubles, 14 runs and 14 runs batted in. The Dodgers are a league-best 49-28 and in first place in the National League’s West Division.
