three stars

To borrow from the hockey tradition, here are three Mississippi stars from MLB action on Friday night:
Mitch Moreland: The Amory native and Mississippi State alum hit a game-winning home run in the 11th inning for Boston, taking down the Chicago White Sox 3-2 at Fenway Park. It was an opposite-field shot, over the Green Monster, off a left-hander. Ironically, Moreland had been inserted into the game as a defensive replacement at first base in the 10th inning. He has been fighting a slump, but, as ChiSox broadcaster Ken Harrelson lamented on the air after the walk-off bomb: “A dangerous hitter is Mitch Moreland.” The homer was Moreland’s 14th – 124th career – and boosted his RBI total to 50 for a Red Sox team that has tightened its grip on first place in the American League East.
Brian Dozier: The Southern Miss product from Fulton hit two homers for Minnesota, helping 44-year-old Bartolo Colon beat visiting Texas 8-4 at Target Field. Dozier belted a leadoff homer, No. 24 of his career, and went deep again in the second inning. Though hitting just .246, he has 19 bombs and 54 RBIs on the season. The Twins are under .500 but not dead yet in the AL playoff race.
Brandon Woodruff: The MSU alum from Wheeler notched a win in his big league debut for Milwaukee, throwing 6 1/3 innings in a 2-0 victory against Tampa Bay at Tropicana Field. “This is what every kid dreams of,” Woodruff told The Associated Press. The right-hander was scratched from his originally scheduled debut in June because of a pregame injury. He made the most of his second chance. Woodruff struck out the first batter he faced, McComb native Corey Dickerson, and fanned six all told. He labored at times, allowing seven hits and two walks, but routinely pitched out of jams. Manager Craig Counsell hailed Woodruff’s composure. The win moved the Brewers within a half-game of the first-place Chicago Cubs in the National League Central.
On deck: Three Mississippi college alums are slated for starting pitcher assignments today: Drew Pomeranz for Boston, Lance Lynn for St. Louis and Chris Stratton for San Francisco.