La Crosse Tribune Sports News

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Aaron Ekblad is fully aware that the Florida Panthers will be dealing with a new issue this season, that being the burden of preseason expectations.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — With the All-Star Game coming up next week, Drew Pomeranz made a strong case to pitch in his home ballpark.

HILLSBORO, Ore. (AP) -- Nate Easley hit a run-scoring single in the sixth inning, leading the Tri-City Dust Devils to an 8-3 win over the Hillsboro Hops on Thursday.

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (AP) -- Jay Baum scored on a wild pitch in the seventh inning, leading the Bakersfield Blaze to an 8-4 win over the High Desert Mavericks on Thursday.

CHICAGO (AP) — Nick Markakis homered twice, including a tying solo shot in the ninth inning, and Tyler Flowers' two-out single in the 11th early Friday morning gave the Atlanta Braves a 4-3 victory over the slumping the Chicago Cubs.

TIJUANA, Mexico (AP) -- Olmo Rosario had three hits and scored two runs as the Toros de Tijuana defeated the Broncos de Reynosa 7-1 on Thursday. The Toros swept the three-game series with the win.

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (AP) -- Zach Houchins hit a sacrifice fly and drove in David Fletcher with the winning run in the ninth inning, as the Inland Empire 66ers beat the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 6-5 on Thursday.

DENVER (AP) — Philadelphia Phillies starter Adam Morgan was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley after another rocky outing.

STOCKTON, Calif. (AP) -- Sandber Pimentel hit a run-scoring double in the eighth inning, leading the Stockton Ports to an 8-7 win over the Lake Elsinore Storm on Thursday.

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) -- Chad Smith homered and singled, scoring two runs as the Spokane Indians topped the Boise Hawks 8-4 on Thursday.

LAS VEGAS (AP) -- Dilson Herrera hit a two-run double in the sixth inning, leading the Las Vegas 51s to a 13-6 win over the Albuquerque Isotopes on Thursday.

NEW YORK (AP) — Long after prized prospect Lucas Giolito stumbled in his second major league start, the frustrated Washington Nationals left Citi Field still angry at the umpires.

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Chi Chi Gonzalez had the longest outing by a Texas starter in six games, and still didn't make it out of the fifth inning while throwing 124 pitches as the Rangers set an undesired club record.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) -- Nate Orf hit a bases-clearing single in the fifth inning, leading the Colorado Springs Sky Sox to an 11-7 win over the Iowa Cubs on Thursday.

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) -- Jack Wynkoop, Tyler Matzek and Luis Alberto Niebla combined for a shutout as the Modesto Nuts defeated the San Jose Giants 6-0 on Thursday.

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Max Kepler and the last-place Minnesota Twins are starting to have some fun.

LANCASTER, Calif. (AP) -- Jamie Ritchie hit a three-run home run in the second inning, and Jason Martin doubled and singled twice as the Lancaster JetHawks beat the Visalia Rawhide 9-6 on Thursday.

FRESNO, Calif. (AP) -- Tyler White hit a two-run home run and had four hits, and Mike Hauschild struck out nine hitters over eight innings as the Fresno Grizzlies beat the Reno Aces 14-0 on Thursday.

After a 3-2 victory over the Thunder Bay Border Cats on June 22, the La Crosse Loggers — sitting second in the Northwoods League North Division at the time — brought a 14-8 record into a home series against first-place…

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- Ali Castillo singled three times, and Ty Blach allowed just seven hits over eight innings as the Sacramento River Cats topped the Tacoma Rainiers 2-1 on Thursday.