Sports
Freddie Freeman grand slam powers Dodgers to victory over Red Sox
Freddie Freeman provided the thunder in Dodger Stadium on Friday night, lining a grand slam into the right-field bullpen in the eighth inning to turn what looked like a desultory loss to the Boston Red Sox into a dramatic 4-1 victory in front of a crowd of 51,562.
But it was a web gem by a novice of a left fielder whose seventh-inning defensive gaffe nearly cost his team dearly that lit the spark for a comeback that the Dodgers hope sets a better tone for the second half.
Chavez Ravine was silent for most of the first seven innings, as Red Sox right-hander Nick Pivetta blanked the Dodgers on two hits with eight strikeouts and one walk through six and Boston reliever Zack Kelly threw a scoreless seventh. Boston held a 1-0 lead on the strength of Jarren Duran’s solo home run in the fifth.
The mood in the stadium dampened even more in the top of the seventh when Dominic Smith led off with a deep fly ball to the gap in left-center that Dodgers left fielder Miguel Vargas dropped when he cut in front of center fielder Andy Pages, who was calling for the ball, a play that was generously ruled a double.
Dodgers left-hander Alex Vesia stiffened, striking out Ceddanne Rafaela with an 85-mph changeup, pinch-hitter Connor Wong with a 93-mph fastball and Duran with a 93-mph fastball to complete a 30-pitch inning and preserve the 1-0 deficit.
Vargas, an infielder who was moved to the outfield at triple A last summer, atoned for his miscue in the eighth when he raced in to catch a Rafael Devers fly ball and fired a throw to Freeman at first base to double off O’Neill, who did not go full speed back into the bag. The crowd finally began to stir.
“Yeah, we didn’t do much for the crowd to get into it tonight up to that point,” Freeman said. “I think the crowd was waiting for something to happen, and Vargy throwing that guy out kind of helped.”
Vargas then opened the bottom of the eighth with a walk, avoiding a full-count, 91-mph cut-fastball at his head from Kelly for ball four. Chris Taylor struck out, but Shohei Ohtani, who looked overmatched while striking out in his first three at-bats against Pivetta, sliced a one-out ground-rule double to left off left-hander Brennan Bernardino.
Will Smith was intentionally walked to load the bases for the left-handed-hitting Freeman, who hooked a down-and-in, 0-and-1 curveball over the right-field wall for his seventh career grand slam and a 4-1 lead, as chants of “Freddie! Freddie!” filled Chavez Ravine and Freeman came out for a curtain call.
Daniel Hudson gave up a single in a scoreless ninth for his fifth save, as the Dodgers, who lost six of seven games heading into the All-Star break, maintained their seven-game lead over Arizona in the National League West.
“One moment in time, one at-bat, I’ll take Freddie against anyone in any big spot, regardless of handedness,” manager Dave Roberts said. “They’re setting up a potential double-play ball [with the walk], they had the right-hander behind Bernardino, so I get it. It was good to be on the good side of that.”
Freddie Freeman celebrates while rounding first base after hitting a grand slam in the eighth inning against Boston on Friday.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Dodgers right-hander Gavin Stone rebounded from two rocky starts in which he gave up eight runs and 16 hits in 7⅔ innings to Arizona and Philadelphia to allow one run and six hits in five innings, striking out three and walking none, against the Red Sox.
His only blemish was a changeup that caught too much of the plate to Duran, the All-Star Game most valuable player who crushed his 11th homer of the season over the center-field wall in the fifth.
Stone’s outing halted a brutal stretch in which Dodgers starters gave up 56 earned runs and 84 hits, including 17 homers, in 61⅓ innings of 15 games before the All-Star break for an 8.22 ERA.
Stone pitched around Duran’s leadoff double in the first. He took a 113.6-mph comebacker off the bat of Devers off his right calf for an infield single that put two on with no outs in the fourth.
But he got Masataka Yoshida to fly to center field, O’Neill advancing to third, struck out Wilyer Abreu swinging at a 95-mph fastball and got Smith to ground out to shortstop, preserving the scoreless tie.
Boston threatened in the seventh when Vargas gifted Smith with a leadoff double, the second time this season a ball dropped on a near-collision between Vargas and Pages.
“I didn’t hear him — it was too loud,” Vargas said. “I have to respect his priority, too, so I take the whole responsibility for that.”
But Vargas made amends with his double play to end the eighth, getting an assist from shortstop Miguel Rojas, who deked O’Neill just enough at second base to delay the Red Sox runner’s retreat back to first.
“That was a weird play,” Rojas said. “You don’t see a lot of assists from the outfield like that. I saw him jogging back slowly, so I said, ‘Maybe I got him.’ ”
Freeman took it from there, the 15-year veteran’s eyes lighting up when Red Sox manager Alex Cora elected to walk Smith intentionally to load the bases in the bottom of the eighth.
“It’s an opportunity to drive in runs — that’s all I care about,” Freeman said. “You can walk all the people you want. That’s part of the game. It’s strategy, a sinker-baller who can throw the sinker in. I could roll it over and hit into a double play. It’s the right move. But sometimes it doesn’t work.”
This one worked out well for the Dodgers, as Freeman delivered his fifth hit in nine at-bats with the bases loaded this season. He is 19 for 47 with the bases loaded in three seasons with the Dodgers.
“From the other dugout, it’s a no-win situation, pick your poison,” Roberts said. “That’s a tough one. It started because of Vargy getting on base and Shohei’s double, which kind of put the onus on the manager, A.C., to make a decision.”
Sports
Terrion Arnold, Lions’ 2024 first-round pick, charged with kidnapping and armed robbery in Florida
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Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold was arrested in connection with an alleged kidnapping and robbery that investigators say occurred in February, the Tampa Police Department announced on Wednesday night.
Police previously arrested six other individuals accused of participating in what authorities described as a “targeted armed robbery” on Feb. 4.
Arnold turned himself in and was taken into custody at Orient Road Jail in Hillsborough County on Wednesday night. He is charged with four counts of kidnapping and four counts of armed robbery.
Terrion Arnold of the Detroit Lions looks on during the second half of an NFL game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis., on Sept. 7, 2025. (Todd Rosenberg/Getty Images)
“We are aware of the matter and have been in contact with the club. We have no further comment at this time,” an NFL spokesperson told Fox News Digital.
The Lions have not immediately responded to a request for comment by Fox News Digital.
According to investigators, Arnold rented an Airbnb in Largo, Florida, where he periodically stayed with several co-defendants: Arianna Del Valle, 19; Jasmine Randazzo, 19; Lyndell Hudson II, 26; Christion Williams, 24; Boakai Hilton Jr., 23; and Freddie Hughes, 27. Authorities said other individuals also stayed at the property.
LIONS’ JAMESON WILLIAMS WON’T BE DISCIPLINED BY NFL AFTER FACING ARREST IN GUN-RELATED INCIDENT: REPORT
Investigators said three male victims, all in their late teens, suffered visible injuries after they were allegedly battered, held at gunpoint and pistol-whipped before being robbed and ordered to leave a residence in the 14000 block of North 46th Street in Tampa.
According to investigators, multiple personal items belonging to Arnold and others were stolen from the Airbnb on Feb. 1. Authorities said Arnold suspected two of the three victims were responsible, though Tampa police later determined they were not involved in the theft.
On Feb. 3, Arnold, Hilton, Hughes and another individual reported more than $250,000 in stolen property to the Largo Police Department.
Investigators allege that later that day Arnold and Hilton coordinated with Del Valle and Randazzo to contact one of the victims and lure him to an apartment.
Terrion Arnold of the Detroit Lions lines up before a play during an NFL game against the Green Bay Packers at Ford Field in Detroit, Mich., on Nov. 27, 2025. (Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)
Police said the three victims arrived at the apartment on Feb. 4 to meet the women, where Williams and Hudson were allegedly hiding inside a bedroom closet. According to investigators, Williams and Hudson grabbed the victims, held them at gunpoint and assaulted them.
Authorities said Del Valle streamed the incident to Arnold, Hilton and Hughes as they traveled to the apartment. Investigators also said they recovered a group chat involving the defendants in which Arnold and Hilton allegedly gave directions to Del Valle, Williams and Hudson during the assault.
According to investigators, Arnold, Hilton, Hughes and another individual arrived at the apartment around 1 a.m. Police allege Arnold directed the group inside, and that Hughes, Hudson and Williams stole the victims’ personal property while the assault was ongoing.
Authorities said the victims were escorted from the apartment about 40 minutes later, forced into their vehicle and left the scene. They later reported the incident to Tampa police and identified the suspects.
Investigators said they believe Arnold was the primary organizer of the alleged scheme based on evidence gathered during the investigation.
Terrion Arnold of the Detroit Lions runs onto the field before an NFL game against the Green Bay Packers at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan, on Nov. 27, 2025. (Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)
Arnold, an Alabama product, was selected by Detroit with the No. 24 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
The 23-year-old recorded his first career interception this past season in Week 9 against the Minnesota Vikings, though he was only able to play eight games due to a shoulder injury that required season-ending surgery.
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Arnold played 16 games during his rookie season in 2024, tallying 10 passes defended and 60 combined tackles.
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Sports
Mexico celebrates magical World Cup win over Czechia at rowdy Azteca Stadium
MEXICO CITY — Mexico’s national team overcame a lackluster first half to beat Czechia thanks to a dream second half that allowed it to finish the group stage undefeated on a night that will be remembered as one of the greatest in Mexican World Cup history.
The celebration of Mexico’s 3-0 win Wednesday at Azteca Stadium turned into a tribute to legendary goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, who entered the game in the final minutes to receive a standing ovation unlike any other for a Mexican player in the history of the tournament.
Czechia was eliminated after failing to earn more than one point in the tournament. In the other group match, South Africa defeated South Korea 1-0 in Monterrey and advanced in second place. South Korea will have to wait to find out whether it advances as one of the eight best third-place teams.
Czechia put up a strong performance during the first 45 minutes, while Mexico showed little offensive clarity, mainly because of a lack of control in midfield.
Everything changed in a matter of six minutes during the second half, when El Tri figured out Czechia and secured its best victory in the group stage.
Mateo Chávez opened the scoring in the 55th minute with the help of Mexico’s lethal counterattack. Luis Romo set up the goal by shaking off three Czechia players at midfield and pushing forward, passing to Chávez, who beat Czechia’s Michal Sadilek and buried a shot to the left side of goal.
Forward Julián Quiñones extended the lead in the 61st minute, exploiting Czechia’s defensive confusion in the penalty area.
Álvaro Fidalgo, who was a second-half substitute, capped the win with a stoppage-time goal. The run on the final goal was set up by a booming Ochoa kick and triggered a raucous celebration by the goalkeeper and his teammates.
The match encapsulated both the present and the future of the Mexican team.
Gilberto Mora, a 17-year-old midfielder from Tijuana and the team’s youngest player at the World Cup, was instrumental in the second half, setting up several of the plays that decided the outcome. With a 2-0 lead, one of the greatest moments for a goalkeeper in World Cup history unfolded. Ochoa replaced starter Raúl Rangel and was greeted with a standing ovation from a large portion of the 80,824 fans at Azteca Stadium.
Mexico’s Julian Quinones celebrates scoring his side’s second goal against Czechia during a World Cup match in Mexico City on Wednesday.
(Silvia Izquierdo / Associated Press)
The fans chanted Ochoa’s name every time the goalkeeper touched the ball, honoring a player who has competed in six World Cups for Mexico.
Coach Javier Aguirre said that finishing first in the group was a “primary objective” for Mexico, which already qualified for the next round. The team achieved a first by securing three consecutive wins without conceding a goal in the group stage. Mexico defeated South Africa 2-0 in the opening match and South Korea 1-0 in the second game.
Mexico, which is co-hosting the tournament alongside Canada and the United States, will face its next opponent — one of the best third-place finishers — on Tuesday at Azteca Stadium.
The only sour note for Mexico came in the scoreless first half when the restless crowd unleashed a popular homophobic chant at least twice. FIFA previously sanctioned the Mexican soccer federation in an effort to stop the chant.
Sports
2026 World Cup Third-Place Standings: Who’s In, Who’s On The Bubble
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For the first time at a FIFA World Cup, finishing third in your group does not necessarily mean going home.
With 48 teams competing in 2026, FIFA expanded the field to include the eight best third-place finishers across all 12 groups. The top two teams in each group advance automatically, and the remaining eight spots in the 32-team knockout bracket go to the highest-ranked third-place teams, determined by points, goal difference, goals scored and other tiebreakers.
That means 12 teams will be competing for eight spots, and the race to stay in the top eight is one of the most compelling subplots of the final days of the group stage.
Here’s where the third-place standings sit heading into the final round of group stage matches on June 24.
Third-Place World Cup Standings
| Rank | GP | Points | Goal Diff. | |
| 1 | Bosnia & Herz. | 3 | 4 | -1 |
| 2 | Sweden | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| 3 | Scotland | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| 4 | Croatia | 2 | 3 | -1 |
| 5 | Algeria | 2 | 3 | -2 |
| 6 | Paraguay | 2 | 3 | -2 |
| 7 | Cape Verde | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 8 | Belgium | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Cutline | ||||
| 9 | Czechia | 2 | 1 | -1 |
| 10 | DR Congo | 2 | 1 | -1 |
| 11 | Ecuador | 2 | 1 | -1 |
| 12 | Senegal | 2 | 0 | -3 |
The third-place standings will shift considerably over the next two days as the final round of group stage matches is played. Follow the live standings at FOXSports.com and watch every match on FOX and FS1, streaming live on FOX One.
Standings as of the end of Bosnia and Herzegovina vs. Qatar and Canada vs. Switzerland on Wednesday.
2026 FIFA World Cup Standings Rules
How Do Points Work? How Do Tiebreakers Work?
In a group, a team will earn three points for a win, one point for a draw, and no points for a loss. That could mean some teams are equal on points at the end of the three-game group stage. That leads us to tiebreakers.
If two or more teams finish equal on group-stage points, here is the order of who finishes on top:
1. Most points obtained in the head-to-head matches played between the tied teams;
2. Superior goal difference in the head-to-head matches played between the tied teams;
3. Most goals scored in the head-to-head matches played between the tied teams;
There are even more tiebreakers if any teams remained locked after all that. From there, ties are broken by these rules:
4. Superior goal difference in all group matches
5. Most goals scored in all group matches
6. Highest team conduct score in all group matches (taking into account yellow cards and red cards)
7. FIFA World Ranking
Which Third-Place Teams Will Advance?
To fill out the World Cup knockout bracket, the best eight third-place teams out of the possible 12 in the tournament will advance. The criteria for those teams are based on:
1. Points
2. Goal difference
3. Goals scored
4. Highest team conduct score in all group matches (taking into account yellow cards and red cards)
5. FIFA World Ranking
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