Pittsburgh Pirates

GLENDALE — Back-to-back batting titles may have eluded Freddy Sanchez, but being named his team’s most valuable player did not. For the second time in as many seasons, the Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman was chosen as the winner of the Roberto Clemente award, which is selected by the Pittsburgh members of the Baseball Writers Assn. of America. Sanchez narrowly beat out left-handed pitcher Tom Gorzelanny, who posted a 14-10 record and 3.88 earned-run average and became one of the National League’s most dominant lefties.

GLENDALE — The following are updates on the area’s Major League Baseball players. Freddy Sanchez (Glendale Community College, 1998) infielder, Pittsburgh Pirates: The 2006 National League batting champion is enjoying quite a September. Sanchez, a two-time All-Star, entered Tuesday’s home game against the Milwaukee Brewers batting .350 (14 for 40) in 10 September games. He’s recorded two-or-more hits in five of those contests. Sanchez entered Tuesday’s game batting .313 (173 for 552)

Former GCC star Sanchez to be honored Freddy Sanchez, who starred for the Burbank High and Glendale Community College baseball team, will be honored Friday at two events. Sanchez, who won the National League batting title last season while starring for the Pittsburgh Pirates, will have his Burbank jersey retired and the city of Burbank will proclaim "Freddy Sanchez Day" at a ceremony at the Burbank High baseball field at 3 p.m. A banquet in his honor will follow at 6:30 p.m. at The Castaway restaurant in Burbank.

Claudia Peschiutta GLENDALE -- Fame comes at a cost -- many, many Dodger game tickets. Members of the Glendale Chamber of Commerce are competing to throw the first pitch and a chance to sing the national anthem on Glendale Dodger Night by selling tickets to the Sept. 6 game. The first pitch will go to the person who sells the most tickets to the game, in which the Dodgers will play the Pittsburgh Pirates. Contestants who sell at least 20 tickets by Aug. 28 will get to try out for the national anthem honors.

Doug Slaten, a former Glendale Community College player, will look to add a third Major League Baseball team to his resume after signing a minor league deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates Wednesday. The terms of the agreement have not been finalized, according to an article on MLB.com. Slaten, a left-handed reliever, reportedly weighed multiple offers this winter before choosing the Pirates because they "provided him with the best fit and opportunity. " Slaten will be the 12th non-roster player to receive an invitation to spring training and will compete with four other left-handed relievers for a spot in the Pirates' bullpen in 2012.

GLENDALE — The following are odds and ends from the local sports scene: AREA TEAMS GOING IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS Two local teams are represented in this week's CIF Southern Section rankings, which were released Monday. The squads, however, are headed in different directions, with one falling and the other climbing in the newest rankings. The St. Francis High baseball team is ranked No. 10 in Division III, falling seven spots from last week. The Golden Knights dropped two Mission League contests to Chaminade last week, 8-1 on Tuesday and 4-3 in eight innings on Friday.

Prior to this year, the most games the Glendale Community College standout played during a major league season was 20 in 2003, when he was called up to the Boston Red Sox. With limited experience, Sanchez had logged just 41 games in three seasons with the Red Sox and Pittsburgh Pirates. So, with that kind of track record, many wondered how the infielder would hold up if he was ever given the opportunity to play as an everyday player. Sanchez, 28, has been given that opportunity this season, and he has been making the most of his chance.

GLENDALE — It took slightly more than three years for Marco Estrada to reach the big leagues, as his rapid ascension has quickly paid off. The former Glendale Community College pitcher was called up Tuesday by the Washington Nationals, who picked him in the sixth round of the 2005 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft out of Long Beach State. Estrada, 25, had spent the season with the Harrisburg Senators of the Double-A Eastern League and the Columbus Clippers of the Triple-A International League.

GLENDALE — The following are updates on area Major League Baseball players .   Freddy Sanchez (Glendale Community College, 1998) San Francisco Giants infielder: When Sanchez, a three-time All-Star and 2006 National League batting champion, was dealt to San Francisco from the Pittsburgh Pirates on July 29, things seemed upbeat. Instead, Sanchez suffered a pair of injuries, including a season-ending knee injury suffered last month. To make matters worse, the Giants (86-73)

GLENDALE — Though Freddy Sanchez, like most of his teammates, struggled with the bat throughout the bulk of the National League Division Series for the San Francisco Giants against the Atlanta Braves, the former Glendale Community College standout can look ahead to another playoff series. While Sanchez batted .125 in four games, it didn't stop the Giants from winning the series in four games. Sanchez went hitless in four at-bats on Monday night in San Francisco's 3-2 come-from-behind road victory.