Mitch Moreland goes 2-for-4 in big league debut

12:17 AM CDT on Friday, July 30, 2010
By DREW DAVISON / Special Contributor to The Dallas Morning News
ARLINGTON

It caught Mitch Moreland by surprise. After all, he wasn't expecting a life-changing phone call at 10:45 p.m. Wednesday. Triple-A Oklahoma City manager Bobby Jones delivered the news to Moreland, informing him that the Rangers were calling him up.

The Rangers decided to go with Moreland with Ian Kinsler headed to the disabled list. "It's the best feeling in the world," said Moreland, who grew up in Amory, Miss. "I've dreamed of this since growing up and, ever since I could walk, this is what I wanted to do."

Moreland started at first base instead of Chris Davis on Thursday and singled in his first career at-bat. He went 2-for-4.

Moreland was able to fly in his parents and sister to be on hand for his big league debut.

Moreland, who played primarily in the outfield in the minors, will play only first base with the Rangers. His last 12 starts at Triple-A were at first base, and the team feels he is capable of playing it at the major league level.

"I know he is a player, and he's swung the bat well," manager Ron Washington said. "When we knew we weren't going to have Kinsler, we went down and got the best player down there. And that was Moreland."

Moreland comes to the Rangers after hitting .289 with 12 home runs, 29 doubles and 65 RBIs in 95 games with the RedHawks. Over his last 45 games, Moreland has hit .345 with nine home runs, 13 doubles and 40 RBI's.

Moreland off and running!

Mitch Moreland (Mississippi State - Dans 2005) began his major league career tonight with a base hit, starting at 1st base for the Texas Rangers. The Rangers are leading Oakland in the top of the 7th, 5 to 3. Moreland is currently 1 for 3. Good Luck Mitch!

DANS CAMP CANCELLED

The last Danville Dan camp, scheduled for this week, has been cancelled. Apologies for any inconvenience. Please email danvilledans@comcast.net for further information.

WHERE DID THE SEASON GO!

With 11 games to go, I'm getting lots of questions about post-season play. So - here it goes! I'm going to give the explanation a shot.

The 1st half/2nd half winners, in each of the three divisions, will play one another in a one game play-off game scheduled for August 9 at the team with the best overall record. We know the Dans will be in that playoff game. At this time, we do know know where it will be played.

Those division winners will travel to Chillicothe, OH for a one day Championship Series on August 11th. Game one that day will feature the teams with the 2nd and 3rd best overall records playing one another. The winner of that game will play the team with the best overall record in the Championship Game that evening. Games times tba.

Go Dans!

A CELEBRATION IS IN ORDER!

While the Danville Dans are on the field battling the Dubois Bombers next Saturday night, July 24, their A #1 trainer, Danielle Whitezel, will be celebrating her marriage to her best friend, Chris Jena.

The Dans and their fans wish them the very best! Expect to see Mrs. Jena (and Mr. Jena) back with the Dans the 1st of August.


CONGRATULATIONS AND BEST WISHES FROM US ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!

Danville wins Central title

The Commercial-News, Danville, IL

July 5, 2010

BY CHAD DARE
CNHI

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — In a winner-take-all contest at Hawkins Field in Nashville, the Danville Dans claimed the Prospect League’s Central Division first-half title with a 6-5 win over the Nashville Outlaws.

Danville right-hander Aaron Lambrix threw four shutout innings of relief to secure the win for the Dans and the title.

“Nashville had really solid approaches all weekend against our pitching and they were a very good fastball hitting team,’’ Danville manager Steve Bieser said. “Aaron came in and did a really good job of changing speeds and hitting his spots. He did a good job of keeping them off-balanced.’’

Lambrix, who is in his second season with the Dans, definitely earned his first save of this season as he got the Outlaws Ryan McCaulley to ground out to end the game with the tying run on third and winning run on first.

Bieser said he stuck with the right-hander from Abilene Christian for two reasons.

“We wanted to stretch him out to get him into the rotation and he was doing as well as any pitcher we put out there against them,’’ he said. “His changeup and breaking ball were the difference in the game.’’

Danville (15-12) rallied from a 4-1 deficit with three runs in the fifth to tie the game 4-4, and then the Dans scored two more in the sixth to take a 6-5 lead as they snapped their four-game losing streak.

“Our guys have done a good job all year of responding in situations like that,’’ Bieser said. “This group doesn’t get too high or too low. Even when we fell behind 4-1, I knew it was still early and these guys were going to battle back.’’

Cole Bieser delivered the game-winning hit for the Dans with a RBI single in the sixth, scoring Jake Huxtable.

While winning the first-half title assures Danville a spot in the postseason tournament, Bieser said there is still more to accomplish.

“We still want to win the second-half title and we’re still playing for home-field advantage,’’ he said. “The worst thing we could do is rest on our laurels.

“Our goal, as it has been all summer, is that we want to keep getting better all summer.’’