Sports
Rio Takeda wins 6-hole playoff to secure first LPGA Tour victory
Jun 1, 2024; Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA; Rio Takeda (JPN) lines up a tee shot on hole one during the third round of the U.S. Women’s Open golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images Rio Takeda went the extra mile to record her first victory on the LPGA Tour, defeating Marina Alex in a playoff that lasted six sudden-death holes to capture the Toto Japan Classic in front of her home-country crowd in Shiga, Japan.
Takeda, 21, finished with a birdie on the par-5 18th hole to card a 5-under-par 67 and finish at 15-under 201 at Seta Golf Course.
Takeda and Alex (66 on Sunday) each notched a birdie on the first playoff hole and pars on the next four before Takeda took control on the final hole.
After Alex missed her attempt for birdie, Takeda sank hers to capture her milestone victory.
“So that was my first time playoff, so I wasn’t expecting that the game was that long, but I managed to win so I’m really happy,” Takeda said.
By winning the $2 million tournament, Takeda is eligible to accept immediate LPGA Tour membership for the remainder of the season or defer until the following season. She said she is still weighing her decision by taking stock of what’s ahead.
“So this week I could manage to have my eighth win and I’m surprised with that, but I have three more tournaments to go in Japan so I need to brace myself, and I just try to finish my year in a great way,” she said.
Despite falling short in the playoffs, Alex earned her best finish on the LPGA Tour since winning the 2022 FIR Hills Seri Park Championship. She is projected to move to No. 32 in the Race to the CME Globe points list, qualifying for the season-ending championship.
When she booked her trip to Hawaii for the LOTTE Championship, to be played next weekend, she thought she might need the points she could earn there to qualify for the Race the CME Globe. Now, her mission has shifted.
“Really excited. I added Hawaii a few weeks ago in an effort to try and get into CME,” Alex said. “I’m still excited to go there, but I think it kind of motivated me to get the job done. And so it’s nice to have these next couple weeks not worried about that as trying to get in and actually just keep building on my game and get geared up for CME.”
The Toto Japan Classic was restricted to 54 regulation holes after Saturday’s third round was washed out by rain.
Haeran Ryu of South Korea was one shot behind after regulation with a 66. She finished at 14-under 202. She was one stroke ahead of Yealimi Noah (70) and Japan’s Saiki Fujita (68).
Japan’s Hana Wakimoto, who led after the first two rounds, shot a 73 on Sunday and finished in a four-way tie for sixth place. Countrywoman Yui Kawamoto (67), Denmark’s Nanna Koerstz Madsen (68) and Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn (71) also shot 12-under for the tournament.
–Field Level Media
Sports
White Sox reinstate OF Everson Pereira (concussion)
Apr 18, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Chicago White Sox right fielder Everson Pereira (28) reacts after hitting a double during the second inning against the Athletics at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Scott Marshall-Imagn Images The Chicago White Sox reinstated outfielder Everson Pereira from the seven-day concussion injured list on Monday.
Pereira, 25, sustained the injury on June 17 after crashing into the wall following a leaping catch at Yankee Stadium.
He is batting .232 with four doubles, three home runs and seven RBIs in 21 games this season with the White Sox.
Chicago optioned outfielder Junior Perez, 25, to Triple-A Charlotte in a corresponding move.
Perez has batted .171 with three homers and six RBIS in 22 games since making his major league debut on June 18.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Report: Timbers signing Dutch F Vincent Janssen
Apr 3, 2022; Portland, Oregon, USA; A view of the Portland Timbers logo before the game against the LA Galaxy at Providence Park. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-Imagn Images The Portland Timbers are finalizing a deal to sign Dutch forward Vincent Janssen, The Athletic reported on Monday.
Janssen, 32, is a free agent after departing Belgium’s Royal Antwerp earlier this summer.
He reportedly will not occupy a designated roster slot in Portland, where he could fill the vacancy opened by Felipe Mora’s recent departure to Liga MX side Atletico San Luis.
Janssen had 13 goals and seven assists in 40 appearances across all competitions last season with Royal Antwerp.
He previously played in North America with Mexico’s Monterrey from 2019-22, tallying 24 goals, in addition to stints with Turkey’s Fenerbahce, England’s Tottenham Hotspur and the Netherlands’ AZ and Almere City.
Internationally, he scored seven goals in 22 caps with the Netherlands and participated in the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Reds place Spencer Steer (wrist) on 10-day IL
Jul 26, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Cincinnati Reds second baseman Spencer Steer (7) is checked on by Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona (77) and training staff during a game against the St. Louis Cardinals in the fifth inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Puetz-Imagn Images The Cincinnati Reds placed versatile infielder/outfielder Spencer Steer on the 10-day injured list Monday due to a right wrist sprain.
Steer was injured while making an awkward swing on Sunday when facing St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Kyle Leahy in the fifth inning. He fouled off the pitch and began shaking the hand.
A trainer and Reds manager Terry Francona had a conversation with Steer before the decision was made to have Edwin Arroyo finish the at-bat. Arroyo lined out and replaced Steer in the field at second base.
Steer, 28, is batting .238 with 16 homers and 40 RBIs in 98 games. He has started 27 games at first base, 26 in left field, 23 in right field, 14 at second base and two in center field.
Steer is in his fifth season with the Reds. He has 82 homers, 301 RBIs and a .242/.327/.739 slash line in 586 career games.
Steer has been rumored to be a possible trade candidate ahead of the Aug. 3 deadline.
Cincinnati recalled infielder/outfielder Ivan Johnson from Triple-A Louisville in a corresponding move. He went 0-for-5 in four games with the Reds earlier this season.
The Reds host the Cleveland Guardians on Monday night in the first of a three-game set.
–Field Level Media
White Sox reinstate OF Everson Pereira (concussion)
Report: Timbers signing Dutch F Vincent Janssen
