three stars (plus)

The Chicago White Sox cracked open a bottle of vintage Billy Hamilton in a 13-8 win over Minnesota on Wednesday night. The former Taylorsville High standout, who doesn’t start often, went 4-for-4 with a triple, a double, a stolen base, three runs and an RBI. He had a shot at the cycle in his last at-bat but settled for a single. Hamilton is batting .250 in just 28 at-bats with eight runs and four bags. Now 30 and in his ninth big league campaign, the speedy outfielder made this team as a non-roster invitee in spring training. … The power in Hunter Renfroe’s arm gets overshadowed by the power in his bat, but that was not the case on Wednesday. The Mississippi State product from Crystal Springs fielded a carom off the center-field wall at Fenway Park and made a jaw-dropping, high-arcing, one-hop throw to nail an Oakland runner at third base. According to Statcast, Renfroe, playing right field, ran 171 feet to get the ball and threw it 202 feet at 92 mph for his fourth assist of the season. As Boston manager Alex Cora told mlb.com: “He saw the play, he got there in time, I saw his throw and I was like, ‘There’s a good chance he’s going to be out.’ He is that good in the outfield.” Renfroe went 1-for-4 at the plate as the Red Sox fell to the A’s 4-1. … Ex-State star Brandon Woodruff of Wheeler delivered his seventh straight quality start for Milwaukee, allowing just three hits and one run with 10 strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings against St. Louis. Alas, he got a no-decision, though the Brewers rallied late to win 4-1. Woodruff is 2-1 with a 1.64 ERA, second-best in the National League. P.S. And down on the farm, three more stars: Harrison Central alum Bobby Bradley went 2-for-4 with a homer, his second, and three RBIs for Triple-A Columbus (Cleveland system); former State star Brent Rooker belted his second homer for Triple-A St. Paul (Minnesota); and State product Jordan Westburg drove in a pair of runs for Low-A Delmarva (Baltimore) and now has nine RBIs in seven games.