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.
It had been a back-and-forth affair the first six innings.
The Rangers grabbed a 2-0 lead on an opposite-field home run 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 Corey 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
