Game Recap: Guardians 7, Royals 4

Manzo Told Us “This is the Way”

It’s finally here! The day we’ve all been waiting for is Opening Day for baseball, and more importantly, Cleveland Guardians’ Opening Day. The Guardians start the road to defend their American League Central title in Kansas City against the Royals. Tanner Bibee was supposed to start but was scratched due to food poisoning. Coming in his place, Ben Lively on short notice.

On short notice, Lively lived up to giving them a great start to kick off the season. Kyle Manzardo was a one-man wrecking crew leading the way in the Guardians’ 7-4 win to start the season 1-0.

Manzardo had himself a day at the dish going three for four with a home run, triple, double, and a team-record four RBIs on Opening Day. He joined Leon Wagner (1964) and Tris Speaker (1925) to become the third Cleveland hitter to hit four RBIs on Opening Day. Furthermore, he is also only the third player in MLB history to hit a double, triple, and a home run on Opening Day. He joins Don Baylor (Orioles – 1973) and Gee Walker (Tigers -1937).

“Manzo” got his triple off of Cole Ragans early in the game and then in the top of the sixth, he gave the Guardians the 4-3 after hitting a two-run home run off of Angel Zerpa.

Then in extra innings, with two guys on base, the Royals walked Carlos Santana to go lefty on lefty against Manzardo and he made them pay. For the third time in the game, he hit his third extra-base hit, a two-run RBI double to make it a 7-4 game after Steven Kwan hit the go-ahead run earlier in the top of the 10th. If there was a game to start a legend of someone, this was that game for Kyle Manzardo. Have a game, Manzo.

Other notable hitters in the game:

• Kwan came up clutch in the Top of the 10th to score the go-ahead run capping off a two-for-four with an RBI day at the plate.
• Gabriel Arais went one-for-four with a double
• Jhonkensy Noel goes one-for-four with an RBI
• Jose Ramirez got an RBI on a hitless day

Overall, Guardians hitters scored seven runs on 10 hits, Manzardo with three of them, in a complete team effort at the plate to help give them their first win of the season.

While hitting was on display, we cannot forget the pitchers. As mentioned earlier, Lively, on short notice, had to come in to start the game after Bibee missed due to food poisoning. He proceeded to pitch five innings of work giving up four hits and three earned runs. Furthermore, he walked none and struck out three in the process. His only blemish was the three-run home run he gave up to Vinny Passquatino to see the Guardians go down 3-0 in the bottom of the third. Other than that, he pitched a great game other than that one mistake. He finished the day with a 5.40 ERA on same-day notice so props to him for coming in last minute and putting on that performance.

Cade Smith, Tim Herrin, and Hunter Gaddis all three one scoreless inning of work combining for five strikeouts (two for Smith and Herrin, one for Gaddis) and one walk (Gaddis). Emmanuel Clase did come into the game in the bottom of the ninth striking out one but did give up three hits and blew the save. In all of 2024, he blew only three games that season. It’s one game and he will hit his stride. Plus, he claimed the win for the Guardians.

Thankfully, Paul Sewald came into the game in the bottom of the 10th to shut the door and earned the first save of the season. He struck out one in the inning of work. Once the final out was caught by Noel, the Guardians claimed their first win of the season as they began their quest to defend their division title.

Overall, it was a very tight back-and-fourth game but in the end, the Guardians prevailed and started 2025 1-0. Their next game is on Saturday, March 29 with the first pitch being at 4:10 p.m. Eastern. As of now, it is TBD on the Guardians starter with Bibee missing today. However, the Royals have Seth Lugo on the bump for them. Fans can watch the game on Guardians TV (hopefully, if it works), or any local provider channels. Furthermore, they can listen to the radio at WTAM 1100.