Jonathan Sanchez
Encyclopedia
Jonathan O. Sánchez is a Puerto Rican
Major League Baseball
left-handed
starting pitcher
for the Kansas City Royals
.
After being drafted by the Giants in 2004, Sánchez quickly worked his way through the Giants' farm system. In 2006, he made the major leagues and was used mostly in a long relief role. In 2007, he made the team out of spring training and was again used mostly in long relief, though he was in the minors part of the season. In 2008, he made the Giants' starting rotation, and stayed in it the entire year except for a stint on the disabled list. He started 2009 as a starter, but was moved to the bullpen during the season. He was returned to the rotation on July 10 because of an injury to fellow starter Randy Johnson
, however, and he threw a no-hitter against the San Diego Padres
that day. In 2010, Sánchez struck out two hundred batters for the first time and was a member of the Giants' team that won the World Series
.
Sánchez throws a fastball in the low-to-mid nineties, and a curveball, change-up, and slider in the eighties.
, Puerto Rico
. After graduating in 2000, Sánchez pitched for four seasons at Ohio Dominican University
in Columbus, Ohio
. While at the university, Sánchez threw four no-hitter
s and set school records for most strikeouts in a single game (sixteen), most strikeouts in a single season (105), most strikeouts in a career (311), and most shutouts in a career (ten). However, his final collegiate appearance was arguably his worst, as he was saddled with the loss in the Panthers' NAIA regional playoff defeat to Saint Vincent College, going five innings and allowing six runs on six hits.
in the twenty-seventh round (820th overall) of the 2004 MLB Draft
. In his first year of professional ball, he went 7-1 with a 3.72 ERA in fifteen games (nine were starts) with the Rookie
league Arizona League Giants and the Single-A (short-season) Salem-Keizer Volcanoes
. While pitching in the Arizona League, he tied for third in the league in wins, with five.
Sánchez was promoted to the Single-A Augusta GreenJackets
of the South Atlantic League
in 2005. He went 5-7 with a 4.08 ERA in twenty-five starts, but he led the South Atlantic League
in strikeouts with 166, averaged 11.9 in nine innings pitched, and was selected to the league's All-star team. During the offseason, Sánchez pitched for the Carolina club of the Puerto Rican Professional Baseball League
, posting a 2-2 record with a 2.91 ERA in 19 relief appearances.
Coming into 2006, Sánchez was ranked as the sixth best prospect in the Giants' organization by Baseball America. He began the 2006 season with the Double-A Connecticut Defenders
, where in thirteen appearances (three starts) he went 2-1 with a 1.15 ERA and forty-six strikeouts.
debut two days later on May 28 against the Colorado Rockies
. He pitched one inning
in relief and retired all three batters he faced (Todd Helton
, Matt Holliday
, and Garrett Atkins
). His performance was overshadowed, however, because Barry Bonds
hit his 715th home run in the same game to surpass Babe Ruth
for second place on the all-time home run list.
On June 4, Sánchez picked up his first major league win. With the score tied at six in the eleventh inning against the New York Mets
, Sánchez entered the game and pitched a scoreless inning. The Giants won the game 7-6 in the twelfth on an RBI single by Pedro Feliz
.
Sánchez posted a 2–0 record with a 1.37 ERA in twenty-two games in his first stint with the team. On July 29, the Giants sent him to their AAA
affiliate, the Fresno Grizzlies
, to improve his abilities as a starter. While at Fresno, he went 2-2 with a 3.80 ERA in six starts. With the expansion of the MLB
rosters on September 1, Sánchez was recalled from Fresno.
Sánchez won his first major league start on September 6 (in place of Noah Lowry
, who was injured), giving up one run in 5⅔ innings pitched in a 3–2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds
. After that, Sánchez replaced Brad Hennessey
in the rotation. However, Sánchez did not pitch well in his last four appearances of the season (one came in relief), as he had an 11.36 ERA in them.
) by Baseball America
. Sánchez made the Giants' roster out of spring training. He struggled in his first fourteen games, however, and was sent down to Fresno on May 21 when Russ Ortiz
came off the disabled list
. Sánchez returned to the majors on June 6 when, coincidentally, Ortiz
got hurt again. On June 13, he picked up his first major league hit (an RBI double) in a 7-4 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays
. On July 4, he was placed on the disabled list
with a strained rib cage, but he was reactivated on July 18.
Sánchez was sent back to Fresno on August 11 to make room for Brian Wilson on the roster. He returned in September, and he replaced Lowry (who was injured) in the rotation. He made four starts, but he lost three of them and had a 7.16 ERA in all four of them. After straining his left oblique muscle in his fourth start, he was shut down for the rest of the season and replaced in the rotation by Travis Blackley
. He finished the year 1-5 with a 5.88 ERA in thirty-three games (four starts).
in a game the Giants eventually won 1-0. Sánchez struck out ten batters again in a 3-1 victory against the Cincinnati Reds
on April 25, becoming the first Giants left-handed pitcher since Shawn Estes
to strike out at least ten batters in a game more than once in a season. From May 28 through June 12, Sánchez won a career best four straight starts. On June 12, in a 10-7 victory over the Colorado Rockies
, he became the first Giants' starter to allow seven runs and win a game since Russ Ortiz
did it in 2000. In his next start, on June 17 against the Detroit Tigers
, Sánchez took a no-hitter into the sixth inning, but he was ultimately the losing pitcher in a 5-1 loss. Sánchez finished the first half with an 8-5 record and 115 strikeouts, which were the most ever in the first half of a season by a Giants' left-hander during the Giants' tenure in San Francisco
.
The second half did not go well for Sánchez. He lost five straight decisions starting on July 9 before getting placed on the disabled list on August 16. In his last start before going on the disabled list, he no-hit the Houston Astros
through five innings. However, he was the losing pitcher in a 3-1 loss. Sánchez returned on September 1, but lost his sixth straight game as the Colorado Rockies
prevailed by a score of 4-0. He finally ended his losing streak on September 12, when he was the winning pitcher in a 5-2 win over the San Diego Padres
. Sánchez did not win another game all year, though, and he finished the second half of the season with a 1-7 record. Sánchez still finished with a 9-12 record, and he struck out 157 batters in 158 innings.
replaced him in the rotation.
Sánchez did not stay in the bullpen very long though. After Randy Johnson
strained his shoulder, Sánchez was chosen to start against the San Diego Padres
on July 10. In that game, Sánchez not only threw the first complete game and the first shutout of his career; he threw a no-hitter, becoming the first Giants' pitcher to do so since John Montefusco
no-hit the Atlanta Braves
in 1976. In the process, Sánchez struck out a new career high of eleven batters. Sánchez had a perfect game going into the eighth inning, but an error by Juan Uribe
allowed the only baserunner of the night. Sánchez almost lost the no-hitter during the ninth inning when Edgar Gonzalez
hit a ball deep to centerfield. However, Aaron Rowand
made a spectacular catch, and Sánchez got his no-hitter. Sánchez's no-hitter was also special because his father Sigfredo, who had never seen his son start a major league game, was in attendance.
The no-hitter proved to be a turning point in Sánchez's season, as he went 6-4 the rest of the way to finish with an 8-12 record. He remained in the rotation for the entire time. Sánchez also struck out 177 batters in 163.1 innings for a 9.75 average per nine innings. This was good for fourth in the National League
, behind only Tim Lincecum
, Yovani Gallardo
, and Javier Vázquez
.
. On August 3, Sánchez tied Juan Marichal
's record when he struck out seven straight batters in a 10-0 win over the Colorado Rockies
. Two months later, on the last day of the season, Sánchez started against the San Diego Padres
. Sánchez pitched five shutout innings, scored the first run after hitting a triple in the third inning, and was the winning pitcher in a 3-0 win. The win sent the Giants to the playoffs for the first time since 2003.
In Game three of the 2010 NLDS against the Atlanta Braves
, Sánchez struck out eleven batters in a game the Giants won 3-2. Sánchez gave up three runs over six innings in Game two of the 2010 NLCS
, but he was the losing pitcher in a 6-1 loss. Sánchez also started Game six. He only lasted two innings, giving up two runs and getting pulled from the game after an argument with Chase Utley
. However, the Giants won the game 3-2 and returned to the World Series
. Sánchez's only World Series game was unsuccessful, as he gave up all four runs in 4.2 innings in the Giants' 4-2 loss to the Texas Rangers
in Game three. However, the Giants ultimately won the World Series
for the first time in fifty-six years.
Sánchez was arbitration-eligible following the season, but the Giants avoided arbitration with him by signing him to a one-year contract.
with prospect Ryan Verdugo for outfielder Melky Cabrera
.
in the 2009 World Baseball Classic
. He made two starts in the Classic. He won the first one on March 11 by pitching four scoreless innings in a 5-0 victory over the Netherlands
. Although he only pitched 2 2/3 innings and gave up three runs in his next start against the United States
, he was in line for the win going into the ninth inning. However, J. C. Romero and Fernando Cabrera blew the lead, and the United States
knocked Puerto Rico
out of the Classic with a 6-5 victory.
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
left-handed
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
starting pitcher
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
for the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
.
After being drafted by the Giants in 2004, Sánchez quickly worked his way through the Giants' farm system. In 2006, he made the major leagues and was used mostly in a long relief role. In 2007, he made the team out of spring training and was again used mostly in long relief, though he was in the minors part of the season. In 2008, he made the Giants' starting rotation, and stayed in it the entire year except for a stint on the disabled list. He started 2009 as a starter, but was moved to the bullpen during the season. He was returned to the rotation on July 10 because of an injury to fellow starter Randy Johnson
Randy Johnson
Randall David Johnson , nicknamed "The Big Unit", is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. During a 22-year career, he pitched for six different teams....
, however, and he threw a no-hitter against the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
that day. In 2010, Sánchez struck out two hundred batters for the first time and was a member of the Giants' team that won the World Series
2010 World Series
The 2010 World Series was the 106th occurrence of Major League Baseball's championship series. The best-of-seven playoff, played between the American League champion Texas Rangers and the National League champion San Francisco Giants, began on Wednesday, , and ended on Monday, , with the Giants...
.
Sánchez throws a fastball in the low-to-mid nineties, and a curveball, change-up, and slider in the eighties.
High school and college
Sánchez attended Blanca Malaret High School in Sabana GrandeSabana Grande, Puerto Rico
Sabana Grande is a municipality of Puerto Rico located north of Lajas and Guánica; south of Maricao; east of San Germán; and west of Yauco. Sabana Grande is spread over seven wards and Sabana Grande Pueblo...
, Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
. After graduating in 2000, Sánchez pitched for four seasons at Ohio Dominican University
Ohio Dominican University
Ohio Dominican University is a private four-year liberal arts institution, founded in 1911 in the Catholic and Dominican traditions. The main campus spans over in the North Central neighborhood of Columbus, Ohio, United States. The university has just over 3,100 students and offers undergraduate...
in Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
. While at the university, Sánchez threw four no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
s and set school records for most strikeouts in a single game (sixteen), most strikeouts in a single season (105), most strikeouts in a career (311), and most shutouts in a career (ten). However, his final collegiate appearance was arguably his worst, as he was saddled with the loss in the Panthers' NAIA regional playoff defeat to Saint Vincent College, going five innings and allowing six runs on six hits.
Draft and minor league career
Sánchez was selected by the San Francisco GiantsSan Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
in the twenty-seventh round (820th overall) of the 2004 MLB Draft
2004 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2004 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 7 and 8. It was conducted via conference call with representatives from each of the league's 30 teams...
. In his first year of professional ball, he went 7-1 with a 3.72 ERA in fifteen games (nine were starts) with the Rookie
Rookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
league Arizona League Giants and the Single-A (short-season) Salem-Keizer Volcanoes
Salem-Keizer Volcanoes
The Salem-Keizer Volcanoes are a minor league baseball team in Keizer, Oregon, United States. They are a Short-Season Class A team in the Northwest League, and have been an affiliate of the San Francisco Giants since the Volcanoes' inception in 1997...
. While pitching in the Arizona League, he tied for third in the league in wins, with five.
Sánchez was promoted to the Single-A Augusta GreenJackets
Augusta GreenJackets
The Augusta GreenJackets are a minor league baseball team that plays in Augusta, Georgia, as a Class A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants. Lake Olmstead Stadium has been the home of the GreenJackets since the 1995 season, although Augusta has fielded a team in the South Atlantic League since 1988...
of the South Atlantic League
South Atlantic League
The South Atlantic League is a minor league baseball league based chiefly in the Southeastern United States, with the exception of three teams in the Mid-Atlantic States...
in 2005. He went 5-7 with a 4.08 ERA in twenty-five starts, but he led the South Atlantic League
South Atlantic League
The South Atlantic League is a minor league baseball league based chiefly in the Southeastern United States, with the exception of three teams in the Mid-Atlantic States...
in strikeouts with 166, averaged 11.9 in nine innings pitched, and was selected to the league's All-star team. During the offseason, Sánchez pitched for the Carolina club of the Puerto Rican Professional Baseball League
Puerto Rican Professional Baseball League
The Puerto Rico Baseball League formerly known as Liga de Béisbol Profesional de Puerto Rico or LBPPR, is the main professional baseball league in Puerto Rico. In 2007, the LBPPR recessed for the first time since its creation...
, posting a 2-2 record with a 2.91 ERA in 19 relief appearances.
Coming into 2006, Sánchez was ranked as the sixth best prospect in the Giants' organization by Baseball America. He began the 2006 season with the Double-A Connecticut Defenders
Connecticut Defenders
The Connecticut Defenders were a minor league baseball team based in Norwich, Connecticut. The team, which played in the Eastern League, was the Double-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants major-league club from 2003 until following the 2009 season, when the Defenders relocated to Richmond,...
, where in thirteen appearances (three starts) he went 2-1 with a 1.15 ERA and forty-six strikeouts.
2006
Sánchez was called up to the Giants on May 26, , as a reliever. He made his MLBMajor League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
debut two days later on May 28 against the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
. He pitched one inning
Inning
Inning is a municipality in the district of Erding in Bavaria in Germany....
in relief and retired all three batters he faced (Todd Helton
Todd Helton
Todd Lynn Helton is a Major League Baseball first baseman for the Colorado Rockies. He is a five-time All-Star, four-time Silver Slugger, four-time National League Player of the Month, and three-time Gold Glove winner....
, Matt Holliday
Matt Holliday
Matthew Thomas Holliday , nicknamed "Big Daddy", is an American Major League Baseball left fielder for the St. Louis Cardinals. Holliday was originally drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the seventh round of the 1998 Major League Baseball Draft.Holliday is a five-time All-Star and Silver Slugger...
, and Garrett Atkins
Garrett Atkins
Garrett Bernard Atkins is a Major League Baseball first baseman who is currently a Free Agent. He bats and throws right-handed....
). His performance was overshadowed, however, because Barry Bonds
Barry Bonds
Barry Lamar Bonds is an American former Major League Baseball outfielder. Bonds played from 1986 to 2007, for the Pittsburgh Pirates and San Francisco Giants. He is the son of former major league All-Star Bobby Bonds...
hit his 715th home run in the same game to surpass Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth
George Herman Ruth, Jr. , best known as "Babe" Ruth and nicknamed "the Bambino" and "the Sultan of Swat", was an American Major League baseball player from 1914–1935...
for second place on the all-time home run list.
On June 4, Sánchez picked up his first major league win. With the score tied at six in the eleventh inning against the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
, Sánchez entered the game and pitched a scoreless inning. The Giants won the game 7-6 in the twelfth on an RBI single by Pedro Feliz
Pedro Feliz
Pedro Julio Feliz is a Dominican Republic minor league baseball third baseman for the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball. Feliz has hit 20 or more home runs in four of his first five seasons as a starting third baseman and is an above average fielder at third base...
.
Sánchez posted a 2–0 record with a 1.37 ERA in twenty-two games in his first stint with the team. On July 29, the Giants sent him to their AAA
AAA (baseball)
Triple-A refers to the highest level of play in minor league baseball in the United States and Mexico.-Purpose:Triple-A teams' main purpose is to prepare players for the Major Leagues:...
affiliate, the Fresno Grizzlies
Fresno Grizzlies
The Fresno Grizzlies are a minor league baseball team based in Fresno, California. The team, which plays in the Pacific Coast League , is the Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants major league club. The Grizzlies play in Chukchansi Park , located in downtown Fresno and built in 2002...
, to improve his abilities as a starter. While at Fresno, he went 2-2 with a 3.80 ERA in six starts. With the expansion of the MLB
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
rosters on September 1, Sánchez was recalled from Fresno.
Sánchez won his first major league start on September 6 (in place of Noah Lowry
Noah Lowry
Noah Ryan Lowry is a free agent left-handed starting pitcher formerly of the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball.-College and the MLB Draft:...
, who was injured), giving up one run in 5⅔ innings pitched in a 3–2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
. After that, Sánchez replaced Brad Hennessey
Brad Hennessey
Brad Martin Hennessey is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He attended Whitmer High School.-Professional career:...
in the rotation. However, Sánchez did not pitch well in his last four appearances of the season (one came in relief), as he had an 11.36 ERA in them.
2007
Entering the 2007 season, Sánchez was ranked as the second best prospect in the Giants' organization (behind only Tim LincecumTim Lincecum
Timothy Leroy Lincecum is an American professional baseball starting pitcher for the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball. He was nicknamed "The Freak" and "Big Time Timmy Jim" and "The Franchise." He throws right-handed and bats left-handed....
) by Baseball America
Baseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
. Sánchez made the Giants' roster out of spring training. He struggled in his first fourteen games, however, and was sent down to Fresno on May 21 when Russ Ortiz
Russ Ortiz
Russell Reid Ortiz is a retired Major League baseball pitcher. Ortiz played for the Atlanta Braves, Arizona Diamondbacks, Baltimore Orioles, San Francisco Giants, Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers...
came off the disabled list
Disabled list
In Major League Baseball, the disabled list is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players.-General guidelines:...
. Sánchez returned to the majors on June 6 when, coincidentally, Ortiz
Russ Ortiz
Russell Reid Ortiz is a retired Major League baseball pitcher. Ortiz played for the Atlanta Braves, Arizona Diamondbacks, Baltimore Orioles, San Francisco Giants, Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers...
got hurt again. On June 13, he picked up his first major league hit (an RBI double) in a 7-4 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
. On July 4, he was placed on the disabled list
Disabled list
In Major League Baseball, the disabled list is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players.-General guidelines:...
with a strained rib cage, but he was reactivated on July 18.
Sánchez was sent back to Fresno on August 11 to make room for Brian Wilson on the roster. He returned in September, and he replaced Lowry (who was injured) in the rotation. He made four starts, but he lost three of them and had a 7.16 ERA in all four of them. After straining his left oblique muscle in his fourth start, he was shut down for the rest of the season and replaced in the rotation by Travis Blackley
Travis Blackley
Travis Jarrod Blackley is a former starting pitcher for the Kia Tigers of the Korean Baseball Organization. He bats and throws left-handed.-Seattle Mariners:...
. He finished the year 1-5 with a 5.88 ERA in thirty-three games (four starts).
2008
In 2008, Sánchez made the Giants' starting rotation out of spring training as the fifth starter. In only his second start of the season, he struck out a career high ten batters against the San Diego PadresSan Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
in a game the Giants eventually won 1-0. Sánchez struck out ten batters again in a 3-1 victory against the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
on April 25, becoming the first Giants left-handed pitcher since Shawn Estes
Shawn Estes
Aaron Shawn Estes is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. After he attended Douglas High School in Minden, Nevada, he was offered a scholarship by Stanford University...
to strike out at least ten batters in a game more than once in a season. From May 28 through June 12, Sánchez won a career best four straight starts. On June 12, in a 10-7 victory over the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
, he became the first Giants' starter to allow seven runs and win a game since Russ Ortiz
Russ Ortiz
Russell Reid Ortiz is a retired Major League baseball pitcher. Ortiz played for the Atlanta Braves, Arizona Diamondbacks, Baltimore Orioles, San Francisco Giants, Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers...
did it in 2000. In his next start, on June 17 against the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
, Sánchez took a no-hitter into the sixth inning, but he was ultimately the losing pitcher in a 5-1 loss. Sánchez finished the first half with an 8-5 record and 115 strikeouts, which were the most ever in the first half of a season by a Giants' left-hander during the Giants' tenure in San Francisco
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
.
The second half did not go well for Sánchez. He lost five straight decisions starting on July 9 before getting placed on the disabled list on August 16. In his last start before going on the disabled list, he no-hit the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
through five innings. However, he was the losing pitcher in a 3-1 loss. Sánchez returned on September 1, but lost his sixth straight game as the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
prevailed by a score of 4-0. He finally ended his losing streak on September 12, when he was the winning pitcher in a 5-2 win over the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
. Sánchez did not win another game all year, though, and he finished the second half of the season with a 1-7 record. Sánchez still finished with a 9-12 record, and he struck out 157 batters in 158 innings.
2009
Sánchez was again the fifth starter in the Giants' rotation in 2009. The season did not start well for him, though, as he had a 2-8 record in the first part of the year. On June 28, Ryan SadowskiRyan Sadowski
Ryan Keith Sadowski is an American baseball pitcher for the Lotte Giants in the Korea Baseball Organization. Sadowski attended the University of Florida, where he pitched for the school's baseball team...
replaced him in the rotation.
Sánchez did not stay in the bullpen very long though. After Randy Johnson
Randy Johnson
Randall David Johnson , nicknamed "The Big Unit", is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. During a 22-year career, he pitched for six different teams....
strained his shoulder, Sánchez was chosen to start against the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
on July 10. In that game, Sánchez not only threw the first complete game and the first shutout of his career; he threw a no-hitter, becoming the first Giants' pitcher to do so since John Montefusco
John Montefusco
John Joseph Montefusco Jr. is a former Major League Baseball pitcher from 1974 to 1986 for the San Francisco Giants, Atlanta Braves, San Diego Padres, and New York Yankees. Named the National League Rookie of the Year in 1975, Montefusco's nickname was "The Count", a pun on his last name which...
no-hit the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
in 1976. In the process, Sánchez struck out a new career high of eleven batters. Sánchez had a perfect game going into the eighth inning, but an error by Juan Uribe
Juan Uribe
Juan C. Uribe Tena is a Dominican Republic professional baseball infielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball. He began his career in 1997 when he was signed to the Colorado Rockies, and played with the team until December 3, 2003 when he was traded to the Chicago White Sox...
allowed the only baserunner of the night. Sánchez almost lost the no-hitter during the ninth inning when Edgar Gonzalez
Edgar Gonzalez (infielder)
Edgar Victor Gonzalez is a Major League Baseball infielder who is currently in the San Francisco Giants organization.-Tampa Bay Devil Rays:...
hit a ball deep to centerfield. However, Aaron Rowand
Aaron Rowand
Aaron Ryan Rowand is an outfielder in Major League Baseball who has played for the San Francisco Giants, Chicago White Sox and the Philadelphia Phillies. He was released by the Giants in September 2011.-Early life and college career:...
made a spectacular catch, and Sánchez got his no-hitter. Sánchez's no-hitter was also special because his father Sigfredo, who had never seen his son start a major league game, was in attendance.
The no-hitter proved to be a turning point in Sánchez's season, as he went 6-4 the rest of the way to finish with an 8-12 record. He remained in the rotation for the entire time. Sánchez also struck out 177 batters in 163.1 innings for a 9.75 average per nine innings. This was good for fourth in the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
, behind only Tim Lincecum
Tim Lincecum
Timothy Leroy Lincecum is an American professional baseball starting pitcher for the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball. He was nicknamed "The Freak" and "Big Time Timmy Jim" and "The Franchise." He throws right-handed and bats left-handed....
, Yovani Gallardo
Yovani Gallardo
Yovani Gallardo is a Mexican-American right-handed starting pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers. He was selected in the second round of the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft out of Trimble Technical High School in Fort Worth, Texas....
, and Javier Vázquez
Javier Vázquez
Javier Carlos Vázquez is a Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. Previously, he pitched for the Florida Marlins , Atlanta Braves , Chicago White Sox , Arizona Diamondbacks , New York Yankees and Montreal Expos . Vázquez was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico...
.
2010
Sánchez was arbitration eligible to begin 2010, but he avoided arbitration by signing a one year contract with the Giants. He was named the fourth starter out of spring training this time. Sánchez began started strong in 2010, as he was 7-6 by the All-Star break. Because of injuries to the Giants' left-handed relief pitchers, Sánchez made his only relief appearance of the year on July 30 in a 6-5 win over the Los Angeles DodgersLos Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
. On August 3, Sánchez tied Juan Marichal
Juan Marichal
Juan Antonio Marichal Sánchez is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. Playing for the San Francisco Giants most of his career, Marichal was known for his high leg kick, pinpoint control and intimidation tactics, which included aiming pitches directly at the opposing batters'...
's record when he struck out seven straight batters in a 10-0 win over the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
. Two months later, on the last day of the season, Sánchez started against the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
. Sánchez pitched five shutout innings, scored the first run after hitting a triple in the third inning, and was the winning pitcher in a 3-0 win. The win sent the Giants to the playoffs for the first time since 2003.
In Game three of the 2010 NLDS against the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
, Sánchez struck out eleven batters in a game the Giants won 3-2. Sánchez gave up three runs over six innings in Game two of the 2010 NLCS
2010 National League Championship Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 16, 2010 — 7:30 p.m. at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaIn one of the most touted postseason pitching matchups in recent history, two former Cy Young Award winners faced off: Roy Halladay for the Phillies and Tim Lincecum for the Giants...
, but he was the losing pitcher in a 6-1 loss. Sánchez also started Game six. He only lasted two innings, giving up two runs and getting pulled from the game after an argument with Chase Utley
Chase Utley
Chase Cameron Utley is a second baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball. A native of the Greater Los Angeles area, he was raised in the city of Long Beach. He was a star baseball player at Long Beach Polytechnic High School, before moving on to UCLA...
. However, the Giants won the game 3-2 and returned to the World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
. Sánchez's only World Series game was unsuccessful, as he gave up all four runs in 4.2 innings in the Giants' 4-2 loss to the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
in Game three. However, the Giants ultimately won the World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
for the first time in fifty-six years.
Sánchez was arbitration-eligible following the season, but the Giants avoided arbitration with him by signing him to a one-year contract.
2011
Sánchez started the season 2nd in the Giant's rotation, as to split the righties Lincecum and Cain, as well as to split the lefites Sánchez, Zito, and Bumgarner. He did not fare well early in the season, and was placed on the DL shortly before Barry Zito was activated in June. When Sánchez returned from the DL, he was still experiencing the control problems that had plagued him before he was injured. Sánchez sprained his foot in August while on the road in Atlanta, and remained on the DL until the end of the season, ending with a line of 4-7 W/L; 4.26 ERA; 101.1 IP; 102 Ks; 66 BBs; .220 Opp AVG; and a WHIP of 1.44.Kansas City Royals (2012-present)
On November 7, 2011, Sánchez was traded to the Kansas City RoyalsKansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
with prospect Ryan Verdugo for outfielder Melky Cabrera
Melky Cabrera
Melky Astacio Cabrera is a Major League Baseball outfielder for the San Francisco Giants.-Minors:Cabrera was signed by the New York Yankees on November 13, 2001, at age 17...
.
International play
Sánchez was chosen to pitch for Puerto RicoPuerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
in the 2009 World Baseball Classic
2009 World Baseball Classic
The 2009 World Baseball Classic was an international baseball competition. It is the only international baseball tournament to feature a large number of players from the major leagues of North America and Asia. It began on March 5, 2009, and finished March 23, 2009.Japan emerged victorious for the...
. He made two starts in the Classic. He won the first one on March 11 by pitching four scoreless innings in a 5-0 victory over the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. Although he only pitched 2 2/3 innings and gave up three runs in his next start against the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, he was in line for the win going into the ninth inning. However, J. C. Romero and Fernando Cabrera blew the lead, and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
knocked Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
out of the Classic with a 6-5 victory.