One popular hashtag evolving through the 2024 season in Cleveland? #GuardsBall. That hashtag came true again to kick off the 2025 regular season.
The Opening Day contest didn’t get off to the greatest of starts for the Guardians. In fact, after three innings, they fell behind the Kansas City Royals 3-0.
But the resiliency of the team immediately woke up. But before long, the Guardians would chip away.
#GuardsBall Notes/Scoring:
Here’s how the scoring broke down:
Bottom 3 – KC: Vinnie Pasquantino HR to right center (389 feet) off of Ben Lively, with Kyle Isbel and Bobby Witt Jr. scoring. KC 3 – CLE 0
Top 4 – CLE: RF Jhonkensy Noel Sacrifice Fly to Right, Kyle Manzardo Scoring. KC 3 – CLE 1
Top 5 – CLE: Jose Ramirez Sacrifice Fly to Right, Gabriel Arias scored and Brayan Rocchio advanced to third. KC 3 – CLE 2
Top 6 – CLE: Manzardo HR to center field (424 feet) off of Angel Zerpa, with Carlos Santana also scoring. CLE 4 – KC 3
Bottom 9 – KC: Michael Massey Sacrifice Fly to Right, Freddy Fermin scoring. Blown Save for Emmanuel Clase. KC 4 – CLE 4
Top 10 – CLE: Steven Kwan doubles to right center (misplay by Royals RF Hunter Renfroe), Rocchio scoring. CLE 5 – KC 4
Top 10 – Manzardo doubles down the right field line and both Kwan and Santana score. CLE 7 – KC 4
And it was Manzardo who had the best day of the bunch, becoming the third Guardian in franchise history with three extra-base hits in an opening day game, joining Travis Hafner in 2004 and Shoeless Joe Jackson in 1913.
Despite blowing the save, Clase picks up the opening-day victory. The loss will be tagged on Sam Long and free agent pick-up Paul Sewald nails down the save.
Tanner Bibee had to miss the game due to acute gastroenteritis.
The two teams will square off with each other again on Saturday, with the first pitch at 4:10 pm EDT.
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