Los Angeles Dodgers vs Texas Rangers Box Score on Jul 21, 2023

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