Pittsburgh Pirates

Jeff Tully Freddy Sanchez felt secure as a baseball player in the Boston Red Sox organization. Since being drafted by Boston in the 11th round of the first-year player draft in 2000, the former Burbank High and Glendale Community College star felt like a well-cared-for son in an organization that had nurtured and cared for him for three years. However, his association with the club was severed last week when Sanchez was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates, ending his ties with an organization he had grown to respect.

gnp-sanchez26Text0B1V9LB0Freddy Sanchez feature.News-Press and Leader With an everpresent smile and an everyday spot, Freddy Sanchez is closing in on the NL batting title. The NL Batting Chase 1. Freddy Sanchez, Pittsburgh Pirates, .342 2. Miguel Cabrera, Florida Marlins, .336 3. Matt Holliday, Colorado Rockies, .332 Minnesota Twins catcher Joe Mauer leads all of Major League Baseball with a .349 average. Standing on the grass around home plate at Dodger Stadium, Freddy Sanchez isn't hard to spot; he's the player with the biggest smile.

GLENDALE ? The following is how area players did during the 2006 Major League Baseball season. Freddy Sanchez (Glendale Community College, 1998) infielder, Pittsburgh Pirates: It's a safe bet that Sanchez won't forget the events that unfolded in the 2006 season, which culminated with him winning the National League batting championship. Sanchez, a Burbank High graduate, finished the season with a .344 average (200 for 582) to finish five points ahead of Miguel Cabrera of the Florida Marlins.

The following is how area players are doing in Major League Baseball. Freddy Sanchez (Glendale Community College, 1998) infielder, Pittsburgh Pirates: The good news for Sanchez is Pittsburgh won Monday, 4-3, against the Milwaukee Brewers and he helped, going one for four with a run batted in. The Pirates (59-86) have been winning a bit more as of late, climbing out of the cellar and into fifth place in the National League Central Division. But Sanchez's September has seen him struggling to the tune of a .244 average for the month.

GLENDALE ? The following are odds and ends from the past week in sports. Sanchez comes through late Former Glendale Community College standout Freddy Sanchez had seen his team lose 13 consecutive games, so he did something for the 13th straight game to get the Pittsburgh Pirates out of their latest funk Thursday. Sanchez hit a lead-off, game-winning home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to lead the host Pirates to a 7-6 victory against the reigning world-champion Chicago White Sox. Sanchez, who finished with four hits and three runs scored, homered into the first row off the left-field seats off reliever Cliff Politte in a game that saw him extend his hitting streak to 13 games.

GLENDALE ? The following are updates on local athletes competing at the professional level. Freddy Sanchez (Glendale Community College, 1998), third baseman, Pittsburgh Pirates ? There's an unwritten rule in baseball of not losing your starting job due to injury. That didn't apply to Joe Randa. Randa spent a month on the disabled list with a stress fracture in his right foot, allowing Sanchez to emerge into an all-star third baseman. Since coming off the disabled list, Randa ?

BURBANK — It seemed fitting that in the shadow of the Burbank house in which he grew up, Freddy Sanchez was welcomed home Friday. At a young age, the former Burbank High and former Glendale Community College baseball standout spent countless hours at the school's field, perfecting his skills and dreaming of playing Major League Baseball. It was his baseball haven, a sanctuary only steps away from his front door. Those formidable years helped shape the player who won the 2006 National League batting championship as an infielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

GLENDALE — None of the area's quartet of Major League Baseball players will likely forget what they accomplished during the 2006 season. Granted, none of them competed in a postseason contest last October. But, Freddy Sanchez and Mark Loretta participated in the All-Star Game, Jason Hirsh made his big-league debut and Gregg Zaun put up respectable numbers that led to a new contract. Beginning today, the foursome will attempt to lead their respective teams to championships and additional appearances in the All-Star Game.

For his lights-out play with the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians this season, Doug Slaten was rewarded by the Pittsburgh Pirates with a call-up back to Major League Baseball on Monday. On Tuesday, the former Glendale Community College player appeared to justify the move with a spotless inning of relief against the Cincinnati Reds in his season debut. The Pirates would lose the game, 8-1, but perhaps saw a glimpse of the steady veteran play they were looking for when they promoted Slaten to join Tony Watson as the team's only left-handers out of the bullpen.