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The highlight show continues for Amory’s Mitch Moreland. The Texas Rangers rookie hit two more home runs on Friday and scored a third run on a botched pickoff play by the Los Angeles Angels. Former Mississippi State star Moreland now has nine homers (and 25 RBIs) in his short time in the big leagues; the lefty swinger has got to be a lock for the postseason roster by now. Moreland hit just 17 homers in his career at MSU, where he also pitched. … Another MSU product, Craig Tatum, a backup catcher for Baltimore, made the most of a rare start Friday by going 2-for-4 with three RBIs against Detroit. He’s hitting .281. Orioles manager Buck Showalter, yet another MSU alum, has to be impressed by Tatum’s work with the bat. Defense actually is his forte. … One bright byproduct of Atlanta’s disheartening loss to Philadelphia: Former Mississippi Brave J.C. Boscan finally got in a game. He walked and scored a run in the Braves’ attempted ninth-inning rally.
P.S. Nice story in Sports Illustrated (Oct. 4 issue) about former Jackson General Billy Wagner, now Atlanta’s closer. Wagner reveals some resentments about Houston, the team that originally drafted him in the first round. He also leaves no doubt that this is his final season. He’s had a great run; he rates a spot on any all-time former Jackson Mets/Generals team.