Sports
Hana Wakimoto maintains lead at Toto Japan Classic
Jul 27, 2024; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Ariya Jutanugarn plays her shot from the second tee during the third round of the CPKC Women’s Open golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images Japan’s Hana Wakimoto carded a 4-under-par 68 in Friday’s second round to maintain her lead at the Toto Japan Classic in Shinga, Japan.
Wakimoto moved to 13-under-par and sits two strokes ahead of Yealimi Noh and Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn in the no-cut event at Seta Golf Course.
Wakimoto followed back-to-back birdies at the first two holes with nine consecutive pars before two more birdies at Nos. 12-13. After a bogey at the par-3 fourth hole — her first of the tournament — she finished the round with her fifth birdie at the par-5 18th.
“I feel comfortable with my tee shots on this course and I think my game is really fit to this course,” said Wakimoto, who never lost the lead in the second round.
This is only Wakimoto’s second career start in an LPGA Tour event. She missed the cut at the 2023 U.S. Women’s Open. She has been a member of the JLPGA Tour since 2018.
Noh matched the lowest round of the day with a 7-under 65 that featured four consecutive birdies at Nos. 4-7. She also chipped in for birdie at the par-4 14th hole and completed her round with only 20 putts.
“For me, last year, I was really struggling with my putting and I just needed something new and something completely different,” Noh said. “I never even thought of trying it but my coach and my dad suggested it to me and I tried it. It helped me get over that uneasy feeling over the ball. So, that’s how it started and now using it a year after, my stroke has gotten really solid and my speed is great with the putter so it has helped me a lot.”
Jutanugarn shot 66 on Friday and is one of three players who has yet to record a birdie, along with Japan’s Yuka Saso and Saiki Fujita. Fujita (66 on Friday) is in a three-way tie for fifth place at 9-under and Saso (67) is part of a nine-player contingent tied for eighth at 8-under.
Japan’s Rio Takeda is in solo fourth at 10-under after posting a 65, highlighted by an eagle at the par-5 13th hole.
Marina Alex (67) and South Korea’s Jin Young Ko (70) are tied for fifth place with Fujita.
This is the fourth and final stop on the LPGA Tour’s four-event fall Asia swing. The 78-player field for the co-sponsored event includes 35 JLPGA members.
–Field Level Media
Sports
After managerial change, Phillies look to alter fortunes vs. Giants
Apr 8, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Philadelphia Phillies right fielder Adolis García (53) walks off the field after lining out to San Francisco Giants left fielder Harrison Bader (9) in the to pot the eighth inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Justine Willard-Imagn Images The Philadelphia Phillies made news on Tuesday morning, hours before opening a three-game series against the visiting San Francisco Giants.
The Phillies fired manager Rob Thomson and named bench coach Don Mattingly as their interim skipper through the 2026 season.
USA Today reported Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora, fired Friday, was offered the job and declined, opting to spend time with his family.
The floundering Phillies (9-19) have lost 11 of their last 12 games and are tied with the New York Mets (9-19) for the worst record in the majors. Both were expected to compete for the National League East title this season.
The Phillies’ run differential (-54) is by far the worst in the sport, landing Thomson on the hot seat.
“Well, that’s natural, right?” Thomson said of his job security prior to Tuesday’s news. “It’s normal. And I’ve never worried about that in my entire career. … I don’t have time to think about it.”
The Phillies snapped a 10-game losing streak Saturday with an 8-5 extra-inning victory over the Atlanta Braves. But the momentum didn’t last long, as they fell behind early in Sunday’s 6-2 series-finale loss.
Aaron Nola allowed three runs in the first inning and three more in the second, and the Phillies’ bats managed only one hit (a single) in six innings against Chris Sale.
“It’s not like the record is going to change overnight,” said designated hitter Kyle Schwarber, whose two-run homer in the eighth accounted for the Phillies’ offense on the day. “It’s going to be a continuous grind, and we’re ready for that. We know that there’s a long road ahead.”
The Phillies’ attempted path to recovery will begin Tuesday with Jesus Luzardo (1-3, 6.91 ERA) on the mound. The left-hander has labored through the first month of the season, although he was able to limit the damage in his most recent outing.
Despite allowing five hits and four walks in 4 2/3 innings against the Chicago Cubs last Tuesday, Luzardo gave up just one run in an eventual 7-4 defeat. Still, he expects more of himself after signing a five-year, $135 million contract extension in the offseason.
“It’s very frustrating,” Luzardo said. “As a whole, we don’t feel like we’re doing the job that we need to do. … I think there’s been times that a lot of us think that we can pick up the slack, me included.”
Luzardo, who is 2-1 with a 5.23 ERA in six career starts against San Francisco, will be facing a team that has turned things around following a slow start of its own.
The Giants have won seven of their last 10 games after beginning the season 6-12. They have won three series in a row — against the Washington Nationals, Los Angeles Dodgers and Miami Marlins.
In Sunday’s 6-3 triumph over Miami, San Francisco’s Casey Schmitt hit a go-ahead home run for the second straight game.
“That’s what we’re here for: to drive in runs and be productive,” said Giants third baseman Matt Chapman, who walked and scored in the decisive seventh inning. “But we are a team, and Casey’s hot right now.”
Landen Roupp allowed just two hits and three runs over 7 2/3 innings — a performance that Tyler Mahle (1-3, 5.26) would love to copy in Tuesday’s contest.
Mahle is coming off a sparkling effort in last Wednesday’s 3-0 win over the Dodgers, as he gave up just three hits and two walks over seven innings.
In four lifetime starts against Philadelphia, Mahle is 1-1 with a 2.41 ERA. He held the Phillies to three hits over 5 2/3 scoreless innings April 8 in San Francisco, helping the Giants take two of three in that series.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Dash sign USL Super League MVP Emina Ekic
Aug 20, 2022; Louisville, Kentucky, USA; Racing Louisville FC forward Emina Ekic (13) takes a shot against the OL Reign in the Women’s Cup championship match at Lynn Family Stadium. Mandatory Credit: EM Dash-Imagn Images The Houston Dash signed USL Super League Player of the Year Emina Ekic through the 2027 NWSL season.
The deal announced Tuesday with the 26-year-old midfielder includes a mutual option for 2028.
Ekic joins the Dash on a transfer from Lexington SC of the USL Super League.
She was named that league’s inaugural Player of the Year with the Spokane Zephyr in 2024-25 after tallying 10 goals and six assists.
The No. 5 overall pick in the 2021 NWSL Draft, Ekic began her professional career with Racing Louisville with 38 appearances from 2021-23.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Ex-UConn QB Joe Fagnano signs 3-year deal with Ravens
Feb 28, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; UConn quarterback Joe Fagnano (QB07) during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Ex-UConn quarterback Joe Fagnano signed a three-year contract with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent.
UConn confirmed his signing on Tuesday.
Fagnano was set to attend the team’s rookie mini-camp as an invitee, but now he has a spot on the team’s 90-man roster. He joins a quarterback room that consists of starter Lamar Jackson, a two-time NFL Most Valuable Player, and backup Tyler Huntley.
Former Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia, the runner-up for the 2025 Heisman Trophy, also accepted a mini-camp invitation, but that could be canceled given that Baltimore now has three rostered quarterbacks.
Fagnano enters the NFL at age 25 after seven seasons in college due to injury redshirts and the extra COVID-19 season. He spent four seasons at Maine and three at UConn.
Last season, Fagnano finished with 3,448 yards, 28 TDs and one interception with a 161.03 passing efficiency rating. He was the only FBS quarterback with more than 200 pass attempts to have just one pass picked off. He led UConn to a 9-3 regular-season record before deciding to sit out the Fenway Bowl.
In 51 career games, Fagnano recorded 10,926 yards passing, 94 touchdowns and 18 interceptions.
–Field Level Media
After managerial change, Phillies look to alter fortunes vs. Giants
Dash sign USL Super League MVP Emina Ekic
