Sports
Jose Ramirez, Steven Kwan power Guardians past Reds
Sep 25, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians left fielder Steven Kwan (38) celebrates his solo home run with designated hitter Kyle Manzardo (9) in the first inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images Jose Ramirez hit a tiebreaking three-run homer in the eighth inning, and the Cleveland Guardians beat the visiting Cincinnati Reds 5-2 on Wednesday night.
After giving up a 2-0 lead, the AL Central-champion Guardians (92-67) proved why they’re among the majors’ best teams.
Back from missing nearly two weeks with a back issue, Cleveland’s All-Star outfielder Steven Kwan reached on a two-out single in the eighth against Cincinnati’s Emilio Pagan (4-5). Kyle Manzardo followed with a bloop single, then Ramirez — who earlier tripled and doubled — sent a no-doubt smash into the right-field seats for the All-Star third baseman’s 38th home run as the Guardians swept this two-game set from the Reds (76-83).
A loser in three straight and five of seven, Cincinnati failed to score after loading the bases with none out in the ninth against star Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase, who recorded his franchise-record 47th save.
After setting a plan for their starting postseason rotation, the Guardians opted for a bullpen game Wednesday. Andrew Walters opened with 1 2/3 innings, then was followed by Erik Sabrowski (1 1/3 innings), Cade Smith (one inning) and Eli Morgan (two innings), who collectively retired the first 18 batters faced and fanned seven, while the Guardians held a 2-0 lead.
However, Tim Herrin came on in the seventh and allowed a bunt single to TJ Friedl. The Cincinnati center fielder went to second on Herrin’s wild pickoff attempt and scored via a throwing error by Guardians second baseman Andres Gimenez on Elly De Cruz’s ground ball.
The Reds tied it an inning later against Hunter Gaddis (6-3). Jake Fraley doubled off the 19-foot-high wall in left-center field with one out. Santiago Espinal then singled to center, where Lane Thomas mishandled the ball, allowing Fraley to score.
Kwan wasted no time making a difference in his return. On the second pitch of the first inning off Cincinnati starter Jakob Junis, Kwan went deep into the right field seats for his 14th homer.
The Guardians went ahead 2-0 in the fourth when Ramirez tripled off the right-center field wall and scored on Josh Naylor’s single.
Junis was charged with both runs, while allowing four hits and a walk with three strikeouts in five innings.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Andrew Putnam wins 9-hole playoff for final U.S. Open spot from Oregon
May 3, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Andrew Putnam watches his tee shot on the second hole during the final round of the Cadillac Championship golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Romance-Imagn Images PGA Tour veteran Andrew Putnam took the concept of “Golf’s Longest Day” to a new extreme.
After playing 36 holes at Emerald Valley Golf Club for U.S. Open final qualifying Monday in Creswell, Ore., Putnam and Spencer Tibbits were tied for second on the leaderboard. The problem was that only two spots were available from Oregon, requiring a 2-for-1 playoff.
Putnam and Tibbits played six more holes late Monday and couldn’t break their deadlock. They returned to the course Tuesday morning, and Putnam finally claimed victory on the ninth hole.
Putnam, a 37-year-old from Tacoma, Wash., will play his second major championship this year after appearing in none of the majors in 2025. He tied for 55th last month at the PGA Championship. Putnam last appeared in the U.S. Open in 2023, when he tied for 43rd.
His only victory on tour came in 2018 at the Barracuda Championship.
Greyson Leach shot 4-under-par 140 over 36 holes for medalist honors at Emerald Valley. Putnam and Tibbits tied at 3-under 141, with Tibbits squandering an advantage by following an opening 66 with a second-round 75.
Emerald Valley was one of 10 final qualifying sites across the U.S. and Canada on Monday. They were also contested in Toronto (near this week’s RBC Canadian Open), at two locations in Ohio, one in California and several courses around the East Coast.
The U.S. Open will be contested June 18-21 at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, N.Y.
Here is the final list of players to qualify Monday (three other qualifiers were previously held):
–Ball Ground, Ga.: Chris Kirk, Jake Peacock, Keith Mitchell, Robbie Higgins, Chase Kyes (a)
–Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.: Giuseppe Puebla (a), Ben Silverman, Ryder Cowan (a), Miles Russell (a)
–Purchase, N.Y.: Kevin Roy, Max Greyserman, Benjamin James (a), James Nicholas
–Gastonia, N.C.: Jackson Ormond (a), Carl Yuan, Jackson Van Paris, Brandon Wu, Cole Hammer
–Rockville, Md.: Jackson Suber, Ben Kohles, Logan Reilly (a), Jake Sollon
–Springfield, Ohio: Neal Shipley, Zac Blair, Dylan Wu, Billy Horschel, Nick Hardy
–Westerville, Ohio: Davis Thompson, J.B. Holmes, Vaughn Harber (a), Arni Sveinsson (a)
–Toronto: Emiliano Grillo, Alejandro Tosti, Marcelo Rozo, William Mouw, John Parry, Max McGreevy
–Sacramento, Calif.: Taylor Montgomery, Eric Lee (a), Matthew Robles (a), Marek Fleming (a)
–Creswell, Ore.: Greyson Leach, Andrew Putnam
–Field Level Media
Sports
Reports: Brewers signing OF prospect Luis Lara to 7-year, $31M deal
Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Luis Lara adjusts his cap during spring training workouts Monday, February 16, 2026, at American Family Fields of Phoenix in Phoenix, Arizona. The Milwaukee Brewers are in agreement with outfield prospect Luis Lara on a seven-year, $31 million extension, multiple outlets reported Tuesday.
The contract with the 21-year-old Venezuelan begins this season and includes three club options, potentially taking the deal through 2035.
The extension could max out at $78 million if Lara reaches all the incentives, a source told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Lara is ranked No. 5 among Milwaukee’s prospects and No. 91 among all major league clubs by MLB Pipeline.
He is batting .338/.447/.500 with seven homers, 27 RBIs and 18 stolen bases in 56 games this season at Double-A Nashville.
The Brewers have signed similar long-term deals with up-and-coming prospects before, including outfielder Jackson Chourio in December 2023 and current minor league shortstop Cooper Pratt in April.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Defender Chris Richards returns to USMNT practice
June 8, 2026; Irvine, California, U.S.; Chris Richards of the U.S. signs an autograph for a fan during training. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Defender Chris Richards is back on the field with the United States Men’s National Team on Monday and appears to be on track for the World Cup opener against Paraguay this week.
“We will see … first time with the team,” coach Mauricio Pochettino said Monday. “Nearly everyone ready to be selected for the game.”
Richards sustained an ankle injury last month and is viewed as a vital defender in the center of the backline.
Miles Robinson and Mark McKenzie filled in for Richards on Saturday in the final World Cup tuneup against Germany in Chicago.
At Monday’s practice in Irvine, Calif., Tyler Adams was not on the field. He worked in the gym for load management purposes, Pochettino said.
Richards, 26, suffered a pair of torn ligaments in his left ankle on May 17 as his Crystal Palace team played Brentford in a Premier League match. He did complete the match but limped off the field and has not competed since.
–Field Level Media
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