pitched battles

Seven Mississippi products went to the bump across the major leagues on Sunday, and each one of them did a commendable job. But the best in show nod goes to Spencer Turnbull, the former Madison Central High standout who went seven innings, allowing a single run, to beat Pittsburgh and improve to 2-0 with a 2.00 ERA for Detroit. Turnbull’s manager and catcher and the opposing manager all lauded his performance, but the big right-hander, nicknamed the Red Bull, didn’t feel like his command was very good. He was observed talking to himself on the mound at various stages. “I think that’s a big testament to the mental side of the game that I’ve worked on really hard, being able to find a way to get the job done,” Turnbull, in his third season, said in an mlb.com story. The seven innings matched his career-best. He allowed just five hits and two walks while fanning four in the 2-1 victory. The Tigers, a ghastly 47-114 in 2019, are a surprising 8-5. Turnbull was 3-17 last year and lost 13 straight decisions down the stretch. … Lance Lynn, the ex-Ole Miss star, also picked up a win Sunday – the 100th of his career – but the Texas ace lasted only five innings (109 pitches) while battling a squeezed strike zone against the Los Angeles Angels. Lynn gave up two runs – on a homer by Mississippi Braves alum Tommy LaStella – after having yielded only one run over his first three starts. He struck out six, a season-low; he’s fourth in MLB with 30. He is now 2-0, 1.16. Mississippi State product Brandon Woodruff also labored a bit in his start for Milwaukee, throwing 91 pitches in four innings but allowing just two runs. He got a no-decision in a Brewers win over Cincinnati and is 1-1, 2.53 on the year. Elsewhere: Ex-State star Chris Stratton fanned six of the 12 batters he faced and gave up one run in a relief effort for Pittsburgh. Jonathan Holder, another former Bulldog, threw 1 2/3 scoreless for the New York Yankees; Ole Miss product Mike Mayers – making his eighth appearance — yielded an unearned run in an inning of work for the Angels; and Northwest Mississippi Community College product Cody Reed tossed a scoreless 2/3 for the Reds. P.S. Kendall Graveman, the former State standout now with Seattle, reportedly will miss “significant time” with a neck injury that sent him to the injured list last week following his second start. He is coming back from 2018 Tommy John surgery. … No doubt itching for his next start is Dakota Hudson, the former State ace now with St. Louis. Because of positive COVID-19 tests within the team, the Cardinals haven’t played since July 29. Hudson pitched on July 26 and took a loss against Pittsburgh, allowing four runs in 4 1/3 innings. It’s unclear when St. Louis will play again.