La Crosse Tribune Sports News

AKRON, Ohio (AP) -- Jordan Smith had three hits and scored two runs as the Akron RubberDucks beat the Trenton Thunder 4-2 on Wednesday.

ATLANTA (AP) — The benches for the Marlins and Braves emptied after Atlanta right-hander Jose Ramirez was ejected for his high, inside pitch to Miami ace Jose Fernandez on Wednesday night.

SCRANTON, Pa. (AP) -- Pete Kozma drew a bases-loaded walk to score the winning run, as the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders defeated the Gwinnett Braves 2-1 on Wednesday.

NEW YORK (AP) — For Clayton Kershaw and the Los Angeles Dodgers, pitching five innings was nearly perfect.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Anthony Rizzo hit a pair of home runs and Jon Lester pitched eight dominant innings as the Chicago Cubs beat the St. Louis Cardinals 7-0 on Wednesday to clinch a playoff berth.

CANTON, Ohio (AP) — List to be reduced to 25 in November (x-2016 nominee):

CANTON, Ohio (AP) — LaDainian Tomlinson, Hines Ward and Brian Dawkins are among the 94 players and coaches nominated for the Pro Football Hall of Fame's class of 2017.

GREEN BAY — If Green Bay’s offense battled extreme heat and opening-game communication problems in Jacksonville, wait until the Packers get to Minnesota.

ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) — A year after having the NFL's worst running game, the Detroit Lions look as if they potentially have a dynamic duo in the backfield.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — The Cardinals' bats have picked a bad time to go cold.

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Defenders like to make fun of David Johnson because he almost always smiling.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Anthony Rizzo hit a pair of home runs and Jon Lester pitched eight dominant innings as the Chicago Cubs beat the St. Louis Cardinals 7-0 on Wednesday to clinch at least a wild-card playoff berth.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Yes, the Mets lost a chance to gain ground in their postseason push. It's also true they dropped two of three to the Nationals. Here's another fact: New York put itself in position for the playoffs with…

FRISCO, Texas (AP) — Alfred Morris won't be trying to prove the Redskins wrong when the Dallas running back faces his former team for the first time Sunday.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Andy Green pulled aside his Padres hitters before this series against San Francisco and challenged them to be better — in day and night games alike.

RENTON, Wash. (AP) — During his decade in Los Angeles, Pete Carroll felt the void.

It isn’t difficult to notice the improvement that’s taken place along the University of Wisconsin football team’s offensive line since last fall.

METAIRIE, La. (AP) — Saints coach Sean Payton is prepared to quit calling offensive plays — something he loves and has done most of his career — if it helps him manage his entire football team better.

TORONTO (AP) — Former Boston Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington has been hired by the Toronto Blue Jays as vice president of baseball operations.

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Rookie Joey Bosa missed Wednesday's padded practice, increasing the likelihood that he'll miss the San Diego Chargers' home opener against Jacksonville on Sunday.