Miami Leads Fernandez From Marlins Park; Mets Win 5-2  —  MIAMI — The Marlins walked half a block alongside a hearse carrying their ace away from Marlins Park at the start of a funeral motorcade Wednesday, and then peeled away with watery eyes to go back inside and play a game.

White Sox will retain Robin Ventura, if he wants to return  —  The Chicago White Sox have decided to retain manager Robin Ventura and will sign him to new contract providing Ventura wants to return, a high-ranking White Sox official told USA TODAY Sports.  —  The official spoke on the condition …

Teixeira Hits Game-Winning Slam, Yankees Stun Red Sox 5-3  —  NEW YORK — His playing days dwindling, Mark Teixeira gave himself a moment to savor Wednesday night and rescued the New York Yankees in the process.  —  Teixeira hit a game-winning grand slam with two outs in the ninth inning …

Kim Hits Pinch-Hit HR, Orioles Beat Jays 3-2  —  TORONTO — Hyun Soo Kim hit a pinch-hit, two-run homer in the ninth inning off Roberto Osuna, and the Baltimore Orioles beat Toronto 3-2 on Wednesday night to move within one game of the AL wild card-leading Blue Jays.

CC Sabathia says he wants to pitch after Yankees contract ends next season: ‘Hopefully it will be here’  —  CC Sabathia has spent the past few years making the transition away from a life as a power pitcher, understanding how to use his diminished velocity to his advantage.

Tebow homers on first instructional league pitch  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — It was the first chance for Tim Tebow to show that everything he'd done was worth it — the change of sports, the open workout for nearly every Major League team, the ensuing media and fan circus that followed everything he did.

Cano's Homers Mariners Top Astros 12-4 to Press Playoff Bid  —  HOUSTON — Robinson Cano continued his dominance against the Houston Astros on Wednesday to keep Seattle's playoff hopes alive.  —  Cano hit a three-run homer in the first inning, and the Mariners kept pressure …

Cubs Extend Theo Epstein, Jed Hoyer, Jason McLeod  —  8:13pm: FanRag's Jon Heyman reports that Epstein's deal actually guarantees him a bit less than $50MM, but it can exceed the $50MM threshold based on incentives.  ESPN Chicago's Jesse Rogers tweets that both Hoyer and McLeod are getting five-year extensions as well.

Royals Win, but Officially Eliminated From Postseason  —  KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The World Series champions have failed to make the postseason for the fourth year in a row.  —  Kendrys Morales and Alex Gordon keyed an eighth-inning rally and Kansas City beat the Minnesota Twins 5-2 on Wednesday night …

Hyun-Jin Ryu Undergoes Elbow Surgery  —  The Dodgers announced that left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu underwent an arthroscopic left elbow debridement earlier today.  The southpaw is expected to be ready for the 2017 season, according to the team.  —  Ryu, 29, had a brief return to the Majors in 2016 …

Diamondbacks Beat Nationals in Rain-Shortened Game  —  By THE ASSOCIATED PRESSSEPT. 29, 2016, 12:12 A.M. E.D.T.  —  WASHINGTON — With Stephen Strasburg not expected to pitch in the National League Division Series and Joe Ross not yet fully stretched out after a two-month layoff …

Jaso Hits for Cycle as Pirates Beat Cubs 8-4  —  PITTSBURGH — Coming around second base in the seventh inning of the Pittsburgh Pirates' 8-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday night, John Jaso stumbled.  —  Then, he went for it.  —  Ninety feet later, Jaso was safe at third base …