La Crosse Tribune Sports News

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (AP) — Case Keenum realized it was only a slip of the tongue when a reporter asked him how he felt about getting his first NFL start on Monday night.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Ivan Nova is doing his part to improve baseball's pace of play.

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) -- Miguel Andujar hit a run-scoring double in the third inning, leading the Trenton Thunder to a 9-4 win over the Reading Fightin Phils on Thursday.

PENSACOLA, Fla. (AP) -- Carlos Franco hit a three-run home run and had two hits, and Patrick Weigel allowed just three hits over seven innings as the Mississippi Braves defeated the Pensacola Blue Wahoos 5-0 on Thursday.

SALEM, Va. (AP) -- Jayce Ray homered and had two hits, and Trey Ball allowed just three hits over 5 2/3 innings as the Salem Red Sox topped the Myrtle Beach Pelicans 5-1 on Thursday.

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) -- Tyler Alamo homered and doubled, driving home two runs as the South Bend Cubs beat the West Michigan Whitecaps 6-2 on Thursday.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Ryan Howard hit a three-run homer, Alec Asher pitched six innings of two-hit ball coming off a suspension, and the Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Washington Nationals 4-1 on Thursday night.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Bradley Zimmer hit a grand slam in the seventh inning, leading the Columbus Clippers to a 6-4 win over the Gwinnett Braves on Thursday.

ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) -- Donovan Solano had three hits and two RBI, and Phil Coke allowed just three hits over seven innings as the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders topped the Lehigh Valley IronPigs 7-0 on Thursday.

QUEBEC CITY (AP) — Patrick Roy is looking forward to his first winter off in memory.

A look at what's happening all around the majors Friday:

NEW YORK — Serena Williams was upset in the U.S. Open semifinals for the second year in a row, beaten 6-2, 7-6 (5) by 10th-seeded Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic on Thursday night.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Ivan Nova pitched a six-hitter to stay unbeaten with Pittsburgh and Jung Ho Kang hit a two-run double to key a three-run first inning as the Pirates defeated Cincinnati 4-1 on Thursday night, extending the Reds' losing…

BOWLING

JACKSON, Tenn. (AP) -- Tyler Marlette hit a solo home run in the third inning, leading the Jackson Generals to a 2-1 win over the Montgomery Biscuits on Thursday.

FISHKILL, N.Y. (AP) -- Nathaniel Lowe hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning, leading the Hudson Valley Renegades to a 5-3 win over the Lowell Spinners on Thursday.

DUNEDIN, Fla. (AP) -- Rashad Crawford hit a three-run home run in the sixth inning, leading the Tampa Yankees to a 9-8 win over the Dunedin Blue Jays on Thursday.

Training camp is over, the starters have emerged from the witness protection program and the Green Bay Packers’ season will begin Sunday at Jacksonville.

ALTOONA, Pa. (AP) -- Stetson Allie homered and singled as the Altoona Curve defeated the Akron RubberDucks 3-1 on Thursday.

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The Colorado Rockies reinstated right-handed pitcher Jason Motte from the 15-day disabled list on Thursday.