La Crosse Tribune Sports News

FOOTBALL

PHOENIX (AP) — Penny Taylor scored 22 points and the Phoenix Mercury returned from the five-week Olympic break to rout the Dallas Wings 98-72 on Friday night.

LANDOVER, Md. (AP) — In their first real chance to play together this preseason, Kirk Cousins and the Washington Redskins' offensive starters showed plenty of rust and then progress in a 21-16 victory against the Buffalo Bills on Friday night.

MILWAUKEE — Jordy Mercer's first career grand slam capped a five-run sixth inning that started with two errors by Milwaukee third baseman Jonathan Villar, and the Pittsburgh Pirates held on for a 5-3 win on Friday night over the Brewers.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Colorado rookie pitcher Jeff Hoffman will never be accused of easing his way into the major leagues.

SEATTLE (AP) — Sue Bird hit a season-high five 3-pointers and scored 15 points to lead the Seattle Storm to a surprising 79-72 victory over the WNBA-leading Los Angeles Sparks on Friday night.

HOUSTON (AP) — Tampa Bay's All-Star closer Alex Colome hadn't allowed a run in more than a month.

BOSTON (AP) — It took Steven Wright an inning Friday night to shake off the rust of three weeks spent on the disabled list.

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Jordy Mercer's first career grand slam capped a five-run sixth inning that started with two errors by Milwaukee third baseman Jonathan Villar, and the Pittsburgh Pirates held on for a 5-3 win on Friday night over the…

WASHINGTON (AP) — On a night when Gio Gonzalez earned his 100th career win, the Nationals starter deflected praise to his teammates. There was plenty to go around after Washington beat the Colorado Rockies 8-5 on Friday night.

CHICAGO (AP) — Chris Sale got his groove back, but he didn't get a win.

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) -- Caleb Joseph hit a walk-off single with one out in the 14th inning, as the Norfolk Tides defeated the Charlotte Knights 7-6 on Friday.

BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) -- Nick Ciuffo hit a three-run double in the ninth inning, leading the Charlotte Stone Crabs to a 9-7 win over the Bradenton Marauders on Friday.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) -- Monte Harrison hit a run-scoring single in the ninth inning, leading the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers to a 2-1 win over the Quad Cities River Bandits on Friday.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Ben Roethlisberger torched New Orleans' defense for 148 yards and two touchdown passes on his first two series of this preseason, then got the rest of the game off while the Steelers rolled to a 27-14…

TORONTO (AP) — Backed by a big offensive outburst, Francisco Liriano earned his first win with the Blue Jays and helped the team into the AL East lead.

BILOXI, Miss. (AP) -- Christopher McFarland hit a run-scoring single in the eighth inning, leading the Biloxi Shuckers to a 10-6 win over the Mississippi Braves on Friday. The Shuckers swept the five-game series with the win.

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Corey Kluber pitched six strong innings for a career-best sixth straight victory and Abraham Almonte hit two run-scoring doubles, helping the Cleveland Indians beat the Texas Rangers 12-1 on Friday night in a matchup of division…

DUNEDIN, Fla. (AP) -- Jorge Flores had two hits and scored two runs, and Brad Allen tossed 6 1/3 scoreless innings as the Dunedin Blue Jays topped the Lakeland Flying Tigers 4-1 on Friday.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) -- Allen Staton hit a run-scoring single in the eighth inning, leading the Springfield Cardinals to a 2-1 win over the Northwest Arkansas Naturals on Friday.