Sports
Dodgers' Tommy Edman builds on NLCS MVP performance by doing the little things
Fresh off his MVP-winning performance against the New York Mets in the National League Championship Series, Dodgers shortstop Tommy Edman opened the World Series against the New York Yankees on Friday night with a … clank!
The first ball hit to him in Game 1 in Dodger Stadium, a 93.5-mph grounder off the bat of slugger Giancarlo Stanton, went off Edman’s glove for an error, allowing the Yankees to put two on with two outs in the first inning.
The rare miscue from the sure-handed utility man did not cost the Dodgers, as the next batter, Jazz Chisholm Jr., grounded out to end the inning, and Edman’s evening got progressively better from there.
Edman turned a double play on Juan Soto’s grounder up the middle in the third inning and saved a run in the sixth with a diving stop that prevented Austin Wells’ ground-ball single with two on from reaching the outfield.
Then, in the bottom of the 10th, Edman followed Gavin Lux’s one-out walk with a single off the glove of diving second baseman Oswaldo Cabrera, and Edman was on second when Freddie Freeman sent a crowd of 52,394 into a frenzy with a walk-off grand slam that gave the Dodgers a come-from-behind, 6-3 win.
“I don’t know, I kind of blacked out,” Edman said when asked to describe his reaction to the first walk-off grand slam in World Series history. “I’m sure I screamed pretty loud and jumped up and down.
“I was trying to get a huge secondary lead to score on a single. I knew their outfielders were playing in, because they didn’t want anyone to score. I was trying to get way off the base, and fortunately I didn’t have to run very hard.”
Edman hit .407 (11 for 27) with a 1.023 on-base-plus-slugging percentage, one homer, three doubles and 11 RBIs in the NLCS, including a two-run double and a two-run homer in a series-clinching 10-5 win over the Mets last Sunday night.
But those good vibes didn’t seem to carry over to the World Series when Edman misplayed Stanton’s first-inning grounder.
“It was Stanton,” Edman said of baseball’s exit-velocity king, whose towering, two-run homer to left field in the sixth gave the Yankees a 2-1 lead. “Not many people hit the ball as hard as he does, and he just top-spinned one like crazy. But it was good to get that one out of the way and make a couple of good plays after that.”
After Gleyber Torres led off the third with an infield single, Edman fielded Soto’s grounder behind second base, scooted to the bag and touched the base as he threw firmly to first for a double play.
Dodgers shortstop Tommy Edman throws to first base to complete a double play in the third inning against the Yankees in Game 1 of the World Series on Friday.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Chisholm followed Stanton’s homer in the sixth with a single to right off reliever Anthony Banda. Anthony Rizzo struck out for the second out. Chisholm stole second, and Anthony Volpe was intentionally walked.
Wells hit a grounder that appeared headed for center field, but Edman smothered it with a diving stop on the second-base side of the bag, holding Wells to a single that loaded the bases. Banda struck out Alex Verdugo with a 98-mph fastball to end the inning.
“That’s one of those plays that are underrated, that people aren’t going to talk about,” second baseman Lux said. “But I’m glad someone else saw that and recognized it as a huge play, because it saved a run.”
Had Wells’ grounder reached the outfield, the speedy Chisholm would have scored from second for a 3-1 lead. Instead, the score remained 2-1. The Dodgers tied it on Mookie Betts’ sacrifice fly in the eighth, but without Edman’s play in the sixth, the Yankees might have won in regulation.
“In a game like this, with all the big moments, those things are definitely going to go unnoticed, except to the guys on the field,” Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy said. “Tommy making that stop was gigantic.”
Edman’s play was one of several little things that went right for the Dodgers but were overshadowed by Freeman’s big thing.
Reliever Brusdar Graterol, pitching for the first time in a month and the eighth time this season, gave up one hit and struck out one in a scoreless seventh, his sinking fastball averaging 98.9 mph and topping out at 99.6.
With two on and no outs in the bottom of the seventh and Rizzo crashing in from first base, Kiké Hernández dropped a perfect bunt toward third, a sacrifice the Dodgers were unable to cash in on.
Left-hander Alex Vesia, who missed the NLCS because of a rib-cage injury, struck out two in a 1-2-3 eighth, an indication he could play a significant role in the best-of-seven series.
Shohei Ohtani alertly took an extra base in the bottom of the eighth when, after he doubled off the right-field wall, Torres, the Yankees second baseman, couldn’t handle the short-hop on Soto’s throw from right field and the ball trickled toward the mound. Ohtani took third and scored on Betts’ sacrifice fly for a 2-2 tie.
Graterol missed most of the season because of shoulder and hamstring injuries, but if the right-hander can regain something close to his 2023 form (4-2, 1.20 ERA in 68 games), he would ease the loss of injured setup man Evan Phillips.
“We’re betting on Brusdar’s heartbeat, the stuff,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “He hasn’t pitched in forever, but we put him in a big spot, he threw up a zero and kept us in the ballgame. He was lights out tonight.”
LAS VEGAS — The door opened for Arthur Kaluma to show his worth for the Lakers in the NBA Summer League on Saturday night.
He did so in a big way.
Kaluma had 34 points and five rebounds during the Lakers’ 91-70 win over the Dallas Mavericks at the Thomas & Mack Center.
He was 11 for 16 from the field and six for 10 from three-point range.
With Lakers rookie guard Cameron Carr unable to play because of a right thumb contusion, Kaluma took over the scoring role. Carr, the 24th pick in the NBA draft, is averaging 17 points per game.
“Cam doesn’t play tonight, so he gets a little bit more minutes, gets a couple more touches,” said Lakers Summer League coach Ty Abbott about Kaluma. “But he’s done a really good job of making the most of it when he doesn’t have actions run for him. So the way that he’s been able to stay ready, find windows for himself has kept him in a rhythm. So, on a night like tonight, when we can run some actions for him, he knocks them down and just plays out of his mind. It was great.”
Kaluma said he was “a little nervous” but his three-point shooting said otherwise.
“When [teammate] Jon Elmore came down and he pitched it back to me for a three … I just knew when it came off my hand it was cash,” Kaluma said. “So I said, ‘Yeah, I’m hot.’ It went on from there.”
Late in the fourth quarter, Kaluma lined up a three-pointer, setting his feet and scoring from 29 feet out. He flashed three fingers and smiled. His teammates on the bench stood and cheered, as did the fans.
“We have such a great group of guys this year at Summer League and going through this it’s hard to get that camaraderie with a group,” Kaluma said. “But I feel like everybody wants to see everybody succeed and I felt that tonight. I’m not going to lie to you. They tell me to shoot the ball. I passed up a couple of shots and they were mad at me the other day.”
Kaluma played for the South Bay Lakers in the G League last season. He averaged 14.6 points per game, 4.9 rebounds and shot 55% from the field, 37% from three-point range.
“The G can get grimey, you know what I’m saying? It’s a time where everybody is trying to fight for a position and there is a certain hunger that you have to have in order to be successful in the G,” Kaluma said. “And I feel like that drive that I had my first year in it pushed me into this summer to really get better and work on my game and come here and have the opportunity to perform.”
Kaluma wasn’t alone in helping the Lakers improve to 2-0 in Summer League play.
Adou Thiero ran the court, took a lob pass from Chris Mañon and threw down a two-handed dunk. He had another solid outing with 15 points and four rebounds. He shot just four for 12 from the field, but was a plus-15.
But the night belonged to Kaluma.
“I pride myself on the defensive end,” he said. “I know I got hot offensively, but the shot was just falling today, you know what I’m saying? My game is three-and-D. I lock-up on defense and I know I can hit open shots. I just got hot today and I’m not going to try to let it get to my head.”
Sports
Golf star records lowest round in LPGA major history with astounding performance at Evian Championship
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
There are good days on the golf course, and then there is what Haeran Ryu just did on Saturday.
Ryu, 25, recorded the lowest round in LPGA major history on Saturday with an 11-under 60 at the Evian Championship. With the South Korean golfer’s historic round, she holds a three-stroke lead.
Ryu’s round comes just two weeks after winning her first major at the Women’s PGA Championship. On the 18th hole, Ryu left a 30-foot eagle putt a few inches short, and instead settled for a birdie.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Haeran Ryu of South Korea reacts on the 18th green after the third round of The Amundi Evian Championship at Evian Resort Golf Club in Evian-les-Bains, France, on July 11, 2026. (Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
She said after the round that she had no idea what she had done until she counted up her scorecard.
“But after the putt and I counted my score with my caddie,” she said. “Oh my God, it’s 11-under par today. It was so amazing. My caddie says, ‘Yep.’ I’m so happy right now.”
If Ryu had made the eagle putt on the 18th hole, she would have been just the second player to shoot a 59 in LPGA history.
ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!
Haeran Ryu of South Korea celebrates a birdie on the 15th green during the third round of The Amundi Evian Championship at Evian Resort Golf Club on July 11, 2026, in Evian-les-Bains, France. (Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
Her 60 broke the record for the lowest round in an LPGA major by one shot. Leona Maguire and Jeungeun Lee6 in 2021, and Hyo Joo Kim in 2014, each shot 61 at the Evian Championship, which was designated as an LPGA major in 2013.
The lowest round in a men’s major is 62, which is shared by four players — Branden Grace at Royal Birkdale in the 2017 British Open, Xander Schauffele and Rickie Fowler in the 2023 U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club, and Schauffele and Shane Lowry in the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Haeran Ryu of South Korea and Lottie Woad of England interact after their round on the 18th green during the third round of the Amundi Evian Championship at Evian Resort Golf Club in Evian-les-Bains, France, on July 11, 2026. (Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
Ryu hopes her historic third round can help propel her to a second major win in three weeks.
“That is amazing, amazing dream,” Ryu said. “So I just want that one to come true, but we have one more day.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Taylor Crabb is no stranger to South California beaches. The Long Beach State alum returns home this weekend to compete in AVP League matches.
It marks the first time AVP will compete in Long Beach since 2020 and allows players to compete at the 2028 Olympics beach volleyball venue.
Crabb, 34, made his AVP debut in 2013 with his brother, Trevor, and advanced from the qualifier in Manhattan Beach before finishing 25th in his first tournament.
After years of competing with various different partners, Taylor Crabb and Andy Benesh have delivered the top performances this AVP season.
The following interview with Crabb has been edited for clarity and length.
Are you excited to compete in this weekend’s event at Long Beach?
Crabb: Very excited. A lot of my college teammates and part of the school have reached out, saying that they’re gonna come. So I’m excited to get a chance to play in front of them again.
When was the last time you were in Long Beach?
Crabb: I always try to go down there for alumni events or any big games they have. I went to UCLA against Long Beach last year, when it was No. 1 versus No. 2, so I always try to get down there and support them.
You missed out on the chance to compete in the 2020 Olympics because of COVID-19 restrictions and chose not to pursue a spot at the 2024 Olympics. Are you fired up to try to compete in the 2028 Olympics, knowing that Long Beach will host the competition?
Crabb: Yeah, it’s definitely an exciting time having the Olympics in Long Beach, and we kind of get to break it in this weekend. As you said, Tokyo didn’t go the way I wanted, but I’m going full force now. I have a great partner in Andy Benesh, who obviously went to the Paris Olympics, and if it weren’t for the Olympics being in Long Beach, and me getting a partner like Andy, I’m not even sure I’d be going for it, but because of those two things, I want to make the most of it.
You mentioned that if it wasn’t for a partner like Andy, you wouldn’t be going for it. What do you mean by that?
Crabb: I didn’t feel motivated by playing in all the international events, but now, I think, sitting out kind of lit the fire under me, and I’m really motivated now.
You’ve had different partners throughout your time. What other motivation does Andy give you?
Crabb: He’s been, in my mind, the top blocker for the U.S. the last four or five years. Seeing the professionalism he brings every day to practice, on and off the court, while traveling and when showing up to tournaments, it rubs off on you and that’s really motivating to see. And I just want to make him proud.
Why do you love volleyball?
Crabb: A lot of reasons, but it’s just a feeling I have when I’m out there on the court. It feels natural. It feels like home. I was born into a volleyball family. I had a volleyball in my hands my entire life, so I’ve always just enjoyed it.
-
Politics7 minutes agoTrump slashes wildlife protections, putting endangered California animals at risk
-
Sports15 minutes ago
Lakers’ Arthur Kaluma erupts for 34 points in breakout Summer League performance
-
World25 minutes agoSheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, architect of modern Qatar
-
News55 minutes agoMessi and Argentina survive another close call to reach the World Cup semifinals
-
Los Angeles, Ca2 hours ago19-year-old arrested, accused of distributing marijuana to minors across Riverside County
-
Detroit, MI3 hours agoPhillies end the Tigers’ winning streak at 6 with a 4-2 victory
-
San Francisco, CA3 hours agoGiants select Barry Bonds’ nephew Peyton in third round
-
Dallas, TX3 hours agoMark Cuban takes legal action against the Dallas Mavericks ownership over proposed arena deal
