La Crosse Tribune Sports News

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Ben Affleck gave former ESPN personality Bill Simmons' new HBO talk show a lively start with a five-minute, expletive-filled rant on "Deflategate."

BILOXI, Miss. (AP) — Eight-time All-Star outfielder Darryl Strawberry will throw out the ceremonial first pitch for Friday's game between the Biloxi Shuckers and Montgomery Biscuits at MGM Park.

But a draft-day trade of center Greg Monroe could change the focus for Milwaukee.

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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Michael Taylor was still wearing his Washington Nationals uniform when he met with reporters after a disastrous night Wednesday.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Yasiel Puig was wearing his "Make Baseball Fun Again" cap after Wednesday night's game.

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Sin City finally has its first major league sports team. Now the question is what to call it.

NEW YORK (AP) — Becky Hammon is having a pretty good week.

CHICAGO (AP) — It was once the ultimate feel-good story, with the electrifying Derrick Rose leading his hometown Chicago Bulls to heights they had not reached since Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen were racking up championships.

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Keith Yandle signed with the Florida Panthers early Thursday, three days after the team acquired the high-scoring defenseman's negotiating rights in a trade with the New York Rangers.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Philadelphia Phillies manager Pete Mackanin is trying to find the best way to snap his team out of its current funk.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Derek Law grew up rooting for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He wanted nothing more than to beat them Wednesday night.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Max Kepler made up for a costly error with a tying single in the fifth inning and the go-ahead sacrifice fly in the seventh as the Minnesota Twins handed the Philadelphia Phillies their eighth straight loss, 6-5…

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Cincinnati Reds starter Dan Straily faced the minimum number of batters through his first three innings. The right-hander also retired the last nine Texas Rangers he faced.

BOSTON (AP) — Red Sox manager John Farrell shuffled Boston's lineup and got more production.

CHICAGO (AP) — When the St. Louis Cardinals arrived at Wrigley Field for a three-game series, manager Mike Matheny shook off questions about their 12½-game deficit to the surging Cubs by insisting he avoids looking at the standings.

CLEVELAND — Following a parade choked to a crawl by a massive crowd, after proclamations, speeches and fanfare, Cleveland watched a symbolic passing of the trophy — and the torch.

MINNEAPOLIS — Tom Thibodeau and Scott Layden are expecting their first draft night as leaders of the Minnesota Timberwolves to be a wild one.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Max Kepler made up for a costly error with a tying single in the fifth inning and the go-ahead sacrifice fly in the seventh as the Minnesota Twins handed the Philadelphia Phillies their eighth straight loss, 6-5…

COON VALLEY — The Chaseburg-Coon Valley Blues brought an unblemished Mississippi Valley League record into Wednesday’s contest against the La Crosse 35ers.