the magnolia state five

It has been a good week for the All-Mississippi rotation. (Note: When Ole Miss product Drew Pomeranz was recalled by Colorado on Sunday, there were five starting pitchers with Mississippi college connections in the big leagues.) Pomeranz did not allow an earned run in six innings on Sunday but took the loss in a 2-0 defeat against San Diego. Now 0-3 with a 3.72 ERA, he goes again tonight against Washington and Stephen Strasburg. On Thursday night, UM product Lance Lynn of St. Louis celebrated his All-Star selection with six shutout innings vs. Colorado and gained his 11th win. On July 4th, Philadelphia cracked open a vintage Cliff Lee, and the Meridian Community College alumnus delivered his first win of the season (in his 14th start) with eight strong innings against the New York Mets. Also on Wednesday, ex-Mississippi State star Paul Maholm, pitching for the woeful Chicago Cubs, beat Atlanta for the second time this season, yielding just one run in six innings. The only major smudge on the ledger came from Holmes CC product Roy Oswalt, who was rocked by the White Sox for nine earned runs in 4 2/3 innings on Tuesday in his third start for Texas. P.S. Former MSU star Jonathan Papelbon, beaten up by the Mets on Thursday night, is in a funk all of a sudden. In his last five appearances, the Phillies closer has allowed six runs and blown two saves. … UM alum Alex Presley is on the 7-day disabled list with Pittsburgh after suffering a concussion diving for a ball on Tuesday. Presley is hitting .244 with six homers for Clint Hurdle’s first-place Pirates.