Sanchez’s days may be over in San Francisco

Freddy Sanchez won’t play this season – and he might be done for good with the San Francisco Giants – after the team announced Thursday that he will undergo back surgery.

Manager Bruce Bochy said Sanchez will have a microdiscectomy performed by Dr. Robert Watkins on Wednesday to remove part of a disc, the latest and perhaps most serious setback in the second baseman’s injury-marred tenure with the Giants.

The 34-year-old three-time All-Star and 2006 N.L. batting champion became the first player in major league history with three doubles in his first three World Series at-bats two years ago when the Giants captured their first championship since moving from New York to San Francisco. Sanchez also kept his team alive with a ninth-inning single in a memorable Game 3 victory over the Atlanta Braves that year in the playoffs.

Darvish, Freese win All-Star fan vote

Texas Rangers pitcher Yu Darvish and St. Louis Cardinals third baseman David Freese are headed to the All-Star game after fans voted them into Tuesday’s showcase in Kansas City, Mo.

Darvish, 10-5 with a 3.59 ERA, is the eighth Rangers player on the A.L. team managed by Texas’ Ron Washington. He beat out four other pitchers: Chicago’s Jake Peavy, Baltimore’s Jason Hammel, Kansas City’s Jonathan Broxton and the Angels’ Ernesto Frieri.

Freese emerged from an N.L. field that included Atlanta outfielder Michael Bourn, Nationals rookie outfielder Bryce Harper and Arizona second baseman Aaron Hill. Freese is batting .285 with 13 homers.

Atlanta’s Chipper Jones had been in the running before he was named as an injury replacement for Matt Kemp.

Clearing the bases

Toronto released 49-year-old left-hander Jamie Moyer. … The Angels placed Dan Haren on the 15-day DL for the first time in his 10-year career because of stiffness in his lower back. … The Braves placed reliever Jonny Venters on the 15-day DL because a sore left elbow. … Dodgers shortstop Dee Gordon has a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right thumb that will require surgery, and he’s expected to miss six weeks. … Ryan Howard is making progress in his rehabilitation for an Achillies injury, and the star Phillies first baseman could make his return to the major leagues this weekend. … The Indians are commemorating the 65th anniversary of Larry Doby breaking the American League’s color barrier by re-naming a street in honor of the Hall of Famer.