Dodgers strike back against the Giants with power from up and down lineup
by Cary Osborne
It’s something the New York Mets learned last year in the National League Championship Series.
Lurking in the lineup of superstars and power hitters is a soft-spoken, easy-going 5-foot-9-inch second baseman/center fielder who can get you when least expected.
Tommy Edman, back from the injured list since Sept. 10, homered off the left field foul pole at Dodger Stadium on Saturday, giving the Dodgers their first lead of the game at 5–4.
The Dodgers eventually beat the Giants 7–5.
https://medium.com/media/857127fe9b9f0da717608b08e8948c8c/href
Edman had eight home runs through his first 24 games. Edman’s career high was 13 home runs coming into this season. The early power prompted questions about how many he would hit and if he was going to challenge Shohei Ohtani in that category.
Edman smiled off the questions.
But the recurrence of an ankle injury this season sent him to the injured list twice.
Since returning from the injured list this time, he hadn’t had an extra-base hit.
The 2025 NLCS MVP got a hold of a 101-mph sinker from Giants reliever Joel Peguero and punched it to the opposite field and off the pole for his first homer since July 29. It was Edman’s 13th homer of the year.
Edman went 1-for-4 but he has three hard-hit balls — one reaching the warning track in left center field. He’s 6-for-28 since returning from the IL. He has 19 hard-hit balls in those 28 at-bats and has been unlucky with just five hits on those excellent-contact swings.
“The swing feels really good right now,” Edman said. “I was able to work on some good stuff during the downtime and have been hitting the ball hard since I’ve been back. That was the first homer but I feel like I’ve been hitting the ball and having really good consistent at-bats.”
Edman said he’s had no issues with the ankle since he’s been back. He’s been additive to the lineup.
“You’ve got a switch-hitter who can work an at-bat, get a big hit,” said manager Dave Roberts. “I know his at-bat quality is a lot better than (the results). The homer today was big for him. Ever since he’s been back he’s been huge for us.”
It was one of four Dodger homers on the night.
With the Dodgers trailing 4–0 in the first inning after a shaky start from Tyler Glasnow, Max Muncy hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the first inning. Michael Conforto hit a solo homer in the fourth to cut the Giants’ lead to 4–3. Freddie Freeman tied the score with an RBI single.
https://medium.com/media/477bb1b010a91038e7ac178c3310bc21/href
Ohtani followed Edman’s homer in the sixth inning with a solo home run — his 53rd homer of the season.
https://medium.com/media/67b758a17fdd2f6bc971d42bd1e3dcfe/href
Ohtani has 141 runs scored this season to extend his Los Angeles Dodger record. Hub Collins has the franchise record of 148, established in the Dodgers’ National League and Major League birth year of 1890.
The Dodgers’ 7–5 victory is their 46th comeback win this season. It’s the second time in a week they have come back to beat San Francisco after the Giants had a four-run first inning. They beat the Giants 13–7 on Sept. 13 after trailing 4–1.
The Dodgers, 10–3 in their last 13 games, have a magic number of three to clinch the NL West.
Dodgers strike back against the Giants with power from and up and down lineup was originally published in Dodger Insider on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.