in hot pursuit

Huge series starts tonight at Comerica Park in Detroit, where the first-place Tigers play the first of four games against the Minnesota Twins, who trail by 2 games in the American League Central. There are Mississippi angles aplenty in this showdown. Former Jackson Met Ron Gardenhire manages the Twins, and his pitching coach is ex-OJM Rick Anderson. Former Ole Miss star Matt Tolbert has been playing a steady third base for the Twins down the stretch. For Detroit, there’s former Jackson General Carlos Guillen, who has been swinging a hot bat; Louisville native and ex-East Central CC star Marcus Thames, a DH/left fielder/pinch hitter with a big swing; and ex-Mississippi Brave Zach Miner, a middle reliever. MLB Network has Game 1.
P.S. Belated props to Jackson native Donnie Veal, who got his first big league win on Friday night by working two scoreless inning for Pittsburgh. Lefty Veal was a Rule 5 pickup in December by the Pirates out of the Chicago Cubs system. He pitched for the Tennessee Smokies of the Southern League last season.