touching the bases

Hunter Renfroe, who, unfortunately, won’t be in Monday’s Home Run Derby, took the lead in the majors in home runs per at-bat on Saturday night when he mashed his 27th of the year in San Diego’s 3-1 win against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Mississippi State product is averaging a homer every 9.7 at-bats. He also set a career-high with his 424-foot bomb against Kenta Maeda, which was also Renfroe’s 12th go-ahead homer of the season. … Nate Lowe, another former Bulldogs star, hit his second career homer — and second in as many games since his Friday recall by Tampa Bay — to help the Rays subdue the New York Yankees. … Meridian Community College alum Corey Dickerson left Pittsburgh’s game with a groin injury that will be reevaluated today. Dickerson is batting .297 with 11 doubles and 16 RBIs in 24 games since coming off a long stint on the injured list because of a shoulder issue. … Tonight’s All-Star Futures Game in Cleveland will feature Mississippi Braves stars Cristian Pache, the dynamic center fielder, and Ian Anderson, who started the combo no-hitter on June 28, and Biloxi Shuckers right-hander Devin Williams. … Ex-MSU standout Brandon Woodruff of the Milwaukee Brewers has been named as a replacement player for Tuesday’s MLB All-Star Game; he takes the spot of another Brewers pitcher and former Shuckers star, Josh Hader. Woodruff is very deserving at 10-3 with a 3.67 ERA. … Not in the All-Star Game (yet, at least): Ole Miss product Lance Lynn (11-4, 3.91), who is tied for the American League lead in wins for Texas. … Six former Mississippi Braves were originally named to the All-Star rosters, but at least half of them won’t be playing. Tommy La Stella, Mike Minor and Charlie Morton have been replaced, La Stella because of an injury and Minor and Morton because they were slated to pitch in real games today. Minor was later scratched but still won’t pitch in Cleveland. Freddie Freeman, Ronald Acuna and Mike Soroka remain on the active roster for the National League. … Colten Keith, a third baseman from Biloxi, was on one of the rosters for Saturday’s High School All-Star Game at Cleveland’s Progressive Field. … As part of the All-Star festivities, the Indians and MLB sponsored the renovation of a youth league field at Luke Easter Park in Cleveland. The park is named after the ex-Indians star who was the first black Mississippian to play in the majors.