around the horn

Ed Easley, the former Mississippi State star still seeking his first big league hit, might get some opportunities now that St. Louis’ No. 1 catcher, Yadier Molina, is out for an undetermined time with a thumb injury. Easley has played nine pro seasons but has just two MLB at-bats. Tony Cruz is the Cardinals’ interim starting catcher, and they’ve added another backstop in Travis Tartamella. Neither Easley nor Tartamella played in St. Louis’ 2-1 win against Cincinnati on Monday night. … The Reds’ Billy Hamilton reportedly will have season-ending shoulder surgery, putting the ex-Taylorsville High star on the lengthy list of Mississippians whose season was halted by injury. (See Zack Cozart, Aaron Barrett, Kendall Graveman, Desmond Jennings, Jacob Lindgren, Cliff Lee.) … Meridian Community College alum Corey Dickerson, who has done three stints on the DL, went 2-for-3 on Monday to boost his average to .302. He has played just 54 games for Colorado. … Ole Miss product Stuart Turner had an RBI double and scored a run as Chattanooga beat Biloxi 4-0, denying the Shuckers a Southern League championship in their first season. (The Jackson Mets won their first pennant in their seventh season, the Generals in their third and the Mississippi Braves in their fourth.) … Southwest Mississippi CC alum Kade Scivicque and Madison Central High product Spencer Turnbull celebrated a Midwest League championship as West Michigan beat Cedar Rapids 3-2. Turnbull, who started Game 1 of the 5-game series, did not pitch in the clincher. Scivicque was behind the plate, as he was for all of the Whitecaps’ 10 playoff games. Scivicque, drafted in the fourth round by Detroit this June, also was the regular catcher this season for LSU during its College World Series run. … Through the first four scrimmages of State’s fall ball schedule, Brent Rooker is 7-for-12 with two homers, seven RBIs and five runs. The Bulldogs scrimmage again today.