The Los Angeles Dodgers, playing their first game at the site of their 2020 World Series championship, rallied for an 11-5 victory over the Texas Rangers to open a three-game series Friday in Arlington, Texas.
The Dodgers were led by three-RBI nights by Freddie Freeman and J.D. Martinez, a couple dazzling catches by center fielder Jonny Deluca and a bullpen that allowed one run over the final four innings. Reliever Ryan Brasier (2-0) earned the win by getting the final two outs of the sixth.
The Dodgers took control, and a 6-5 lead, with two runs in the seventh.
After loading the bases with no outs, Martinez drew a six-pitch walk to tie the game off Rangers reliever Alex Speas (0-1). The Dodgers scored the go-ahead run on a fielder's choice groundout by Max Muncy off Cody Bradford.
The Dodgers pulled away with three runs in the eighth. Will Smith had a two-run double and Martinez had an RBI single. They added two more runs in the ninth on a double by Mookie Betts.
Playing his first game against his former team, Rangers shortstop Corey Seager went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, but he exited in the eighth inning with a sprained right thumb. Seager was hurt diving headfirst into second base on a double.
Manager Bruce Bochy said after the game that X-rays on Seager, who was named an All-Star this season for the fourth time in his career, were negative, and he is day to day.
It had been a back-and-forth affair over the first six innings.
The Rangers grabbed a 2-0 lead on an opposite-field home run to left field by Nathaniel Lowe in the first inning. The Dodgers scored three runs in the third for a 3-2 lead, including a two-run double by Freeman.
Texas jumped back in front 4-3 with two runs in the fourth, and Los Angeles tied it at 4-4 on a solo home run by Freeman in the fifth.
In the bottom of the fifth, Deluca stole the show with a couple of highlight-reel catches. He made a diving catch in left-center field to take away an extra-base hit by Leody Taveras. Then, he closed the inning with a leaping grab to rob Rangers leadoff man Marcus Semien of what would have been his 200th career home run.
Texas responded the next inning, taking a 5-4 lead on a solo shot by Seager. But the Rangers didn't have answers in the final three innings.
Both starters -- Andrew Heaney of the Rangers and Tony Gonsolin of the Dodgers -- allowed four runs over five innings.
--Field Level Media
LA Dodgers | Texas | |
Tony Gonsolin | Player | Andrew Heaney |
No Decision | W/L | No Decision |
5.0 | IP | 5.0 |
6 | Strikeouts | 3 |
2 | Hits | 5 |
7.20 | ERA | 7.20 |
LA Dodgers | Texas | |
Freddie Freeman | Player | Corey Seager |
2 | Hits | 2 |
3 | RBI | 1 |
1 | HR | 1 |
6 | TB | 6 |
.500 | Avg | .667 |
Team | Hits | HR | TB | Avg | LOB | K | RBI | BB | SB | Errors |
LA Dodgers | 13 | 1 | 20 | .351 | 25 | 8 | 11 | 8 | 1 | 0 |
Texas | 4 | 2 | 12 | .154 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 0 | 0 |