Freddy Sanchez

The following are updates on the area's Major League Baseball players. But it never came. Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Aaron Rowand popped up and Sanchez never got his chance to shine, finishing 0 for one in the game, as he ended the contest in the on-deck circle. "You live for those moments," Sanchez told mlb.com. "Unfortunately, we came up short." Sanchez gets a prolonged All-Star break, as him and the rest of the Pirates travel to play the Atlanta Braves through the weekend, beginning on Friday.

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, and the Pirates started off their season Monday with a 12-11 road victory against the Atlanta Braves. The 2006 National League batting champion finished with three hits and walked once in the 12-inning contest. He had one double and a pair of singles. He then collected a pair of hits Wednesday night in Pittsburgh?

Jeff Tully Throughout his baseball career, Freddy Sanchez has been a consistent performer, rarely missing games because of illness or injury. However, the former Burbank High and Glendale Community College star has had to sit and watch the 2004 major league season go by, as the 26-year-old has been sidelined following offseason surgery. Sanchez -- who played shortstop, second base and third base for the Boston Red Sox before being traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates in July -- began his rehabilitation assignment with triple-A Nashville on June 20. He had previously appeared in only one game for the organization -- going two for five with a double and a run scored Aug. 3 against Colorado Springs -- after being acquired last year at the trade deadline.

GLENDALE ? One walk-off hit this season was not enough for Freddy Sanchez. The former Glendale Community College standout, who hit a walk-off home run earlier this season against the Chicago White Sox, came through in the clutch again for the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday. The National League leader in batting average and average with runners in scoring position hit a two-run single with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the 11th inning to lift the Pirates to a 10-9 win against the visiting Chicago Cubs.

GLENDALE ? The following is an update on locals in Major League Baseball. MOMENTUM SWING Gregg Zaun started the 2006 season on the disabled list after having a career year last year, but he didn't waste much time in returning to his usual form. Zaun, playing for the first time this year on Saturday, hit a two-run home run in Toronto's 8-4 victory against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Zaun's home run came in the fifth inning and gave the Blue Jays a 5-4 advantage, their first of the game.

GLENDALE ? Mark Loretta will book a trip to Pittsburgh. Freddy Sanchez will just stay there. Both locals were selected to play in the 77th Major League Baseball All-Star Game, which will be held at 5 p.m. July 11 at PNC Park in Pittsburgh. Loretta, a 1989 graduate of St. Francis who is a second baseman for the Boston Red Sox, was chosen to start for the American League All-Star Team, which was unveiled on Sunday. Sanchez, a former Glendale Community College and Burbank High standout who is in his second full season in the big leagues with the Pittsburgh Pirates, was one of seven players added to the National League team by Houston Astros Manager Phil Garner.

Jeff Tully With less than a month left until the opening of spring training, Freddy Sanchez is in the best shape of his life. Along with his physical condition, the former Glendale Community College baseball star is also invigorated with renewed self-confidence and is enthusiastic about his future as an infielder for the Boston Red Sox. "I can't wait for spring training to start," said Sanchez, who is ...

GLENDALE ? The following are odds and ends from the local sports scene. REID, EAGLES SEE PLAYOFF RUN END The Philadelphia Eagles, who are coached by former Glendale Community College standout Andy Reid , saw their season end Saturday with a 27-24 loss to the host New Orleans Saints in an NFC divisional game. The Eagles, who captured the NFC's East Division crown for the fifth time in six years, ended the year with an 11-7 record. Reid, who led the Eagles to an appearance in the Super Bowl in 2004, said he's already looking ahead to next season.

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL NAME: Mark Loretta TEAM: San Diego Padres LOCAL TIES: St. Francis, class of 1989 THIS SEASON: Entering Friday's game against the host Chicago White Sox, Loretta was batting .293 with five home runs and 22 runs batted in. Loretta, an infielder who previously played for the Milwaukee Brewers and Houston Astros, has scored 24 runs and recorded 65 hits this season. He's recorded 11 doubles and one triple. LATEST NEWS: Loretta registered a double in an 8-5 loss to the host Cleveland Indians on Tuesday.