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MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL UPDATE:
Botts sees a boost in playing time
Rangers hoping to get an extended look at switch-hitter; Sanchez’s five-game hit streak snapped.
By Dylan Kruse
GLENDALE — The following are updates on area Major League Baseball players.
Jason Botts (Glendale Community College, 2000) Texas Rangers, outfielder/first baseman: Botts has seen a dramatic boost in playing time recently, making appearances in nine of the Rangers’ last 10 games and starting four of the last five.
The increased action comes after Rangers Manager Ron Washington acknowledged he had a conversation with General Manager Jon Daniels about getting Botts some extra at bats.
“We talked about getting him some at bats during this road trip, and I think we’ve done that,” Washington told the Dallas Morning News. “We’ve got this guy and we need to see what he’s got.”
With Texas’ crowded outfield situation, Botts has split the majority of his time this season between first base and designated hitter.
That trend continued in Thursday’s 8-2 loss to the Detroit Tigers, as the 27-year-old started at DH, going 0 for one with three walks. Botts is currently mired in a 0 for nine slump since he went two for five in a 5-3 loss to the Boston Red Sox on Saturday.
On the season, the switch-hitter is batting .138 with one home run, four runs batted in and one run scored.
Botts has struck out in 13 of his 29 at bats this year.
Freddy Sanchez (Glendale Community College, 1998) Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman: Sanchez had a five-game hitting streak snapped with a 0-for-four effort in Thursday’s 6-2 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.
The former Burbank High star, who won the National League batting title in 2006, is slowly starting to round into form as his average has climbed to .227 from .194 in the past two weeks.
Sanchez, who has scored six runs and knocked in six runs this season, keyed the Pirates’ 7-2 win over the Cardinals on Wednesday, going two for four at the plate with two runs scored.
Gregg Zaun (St. Francis High, 1989) Toronto Blue Jays catcher: With his team trailing by two and runners on first and second with no outs in the ninth inning of Thursday’s game with the Tampa Bay Rays, Zaun came up with a chance to tie or even give his team a lead.
But the 12-year veteran flied out to deep right field and Toronto couldn’t push any more runs across in a 5-3 defeat, the fourth straight loss for the Blue Jays.
Despite the final out, Zaun finished two for three, with a run scored and a walk. With his effort on Thursday, Zaun has now reached base in 14 of the 16 games he has started for the Blue Jays (10-13).
Zaun, who is now batting .270 on the season with one home run and four runs batted in, is splitting time with fellow backstop Rob Barajas, but the pair may see more time with the recent departure of designated hitter Frank Thomas.
Mark Loretta (St. Francis High, 1989) Houston Astros second baseman: With the return of starting second baseman Kaz Matsui from the disabled list, Loretta has been thrust into more of a utility role, splitting time at second, shortstop and third base.
Starting at second, the two-time All-Star went 0 for four in Thursday’s 5-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.
Loretta had a big game in Wednesday’s 9-3 rout of the Reds, as he collected a single, a double, scored a run and drove in a run.
On the season, the 36-year-old is batting .233 with six runs batted in and five runs scored. The Astros are currently riding a five-game winnings streak that has improved their record to 11-12.
Jason Botts (Glendale Community College, 2000) Texas Rangers, outfielder/first baseman: Botts has seen a dramatic boost in playing time recently, making appearances in nine of the Rangers’ last 10 games and starting four of the last five.
The increased action comes after Rangers Manager Ron Washington acknowledged he had a conversation with General Manager Jon Daniels about getting Botts some extra at bats.
“We talked about getting him some at bats during this road trip, and I think we’ve done that,” Washington told the Dallas Morning News. “We’ve got this guy and we need to see what he’s got.”
With Texas’ crowded outfield situation, Botts has split the majority of his time this season between first base and designated hitter.
That trend continued in Thursday’s 8-2 loss to the Detroit Tigers, as the 27-year-old started at DH, going 0 for one with three walks. Botts is currently mired in a 0 for nine slump since he went two for five in a 5-3 loss to the Boston Red Sox on Saturday.
On the season, the switch-hitter is batting .138 with one home run, four runs batted in and one run scored.
Botts has struck out in 13 of his 29 at bats this year.
Freddy Sanchez (Glendale Community College, 1998) Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman: Sanchez had a five-game hitting streak snapped with a 0-for-four effort in Thursday’s 6-2 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.
The former Burbank High star, who won the National League batting title in 2006, is slowly starting to round into form as his average has climbed to .227 from .194 in the past two weeks.
Sanchez, who has scored six runs and knocked in six runs this season, keyed the Pirates’ 7-2 win over the Cardinals on Wednesday, going two for four at the plate with two runs scored.
Gregg Zaun (St. Francis High, 1989) Toronto Blue Jays catcher: With his team trailing by two and runners on first and second with no outs in the ninth inning of Thursday’s game with the Tampa Bay Rays, Zaun came up with a chance to tie or even give his team a lead.
But the 12-year veteran flied out to deep right field and Toronto couldn’t push any more runs across in a 5-3 defeat, the fourth straight loss for the Blue Jays.
Despite the final out, Zaun finished two for three, with a run scored and a walk. With his effort on Thursday, Zaun has now reached base in 14 of the 16 games he has started for the Blue Jays (10-13).
Zaun, who is now batting .270 on the season with one home run and four runs batted in, is splitting time with fellow backstop Rob Barajas, but the pair may see more time with the recent departure of designated hitter Frank Thomas.
Mark Loretta (St. Francis High, 1989) Houston Astros second baseman: With the return of starting second baseman Kaz Matsui from the disabled list, Loretta has been thrust into more of a utility role, splitting time at second, shortstop and third base.
Starting at second, the two-time All-Star went 0 for four in Thursday’s 5-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.
Loretta had a big game in Wednesday’s 9-3 rout of the Reds, as he collected a single, a double, scored a run and drove in a run.
On the season, the 36-year-old is batting .233 with six runs batted in and five runs scored. The Astros are currently riding a five-game winnings streak that has improved their record to 11-12.
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