The Cleveland Guardians earned a 6-5 victory over the Kansas City Royals at Goodyear Ballpark on Friday in spring training action. Kyle Manzardo paced the offense, going 1-for-2 with a home run and three RBI, giving the coaching staff plenty to be encouraged about as the exhibition schedule continues. Parker Messick worked 5.2 innings on the mound, allowing 4 earned runs on 7 hits. The Royals out-hit the Guardians 10-8 on the day. It was an encouraging performance for the Guardians as they continue sharpening the roster for the regular season. Games like these serve as a valuable measuring stick for where the team stands heading into the campaign.
Key Performers
Kyle Manzardo was the offensive highlight at the plate, going 1-for-2 with a home run and three RBI. The long ball provided a major boost to the offensive attack. It was the kind of day at the plate that suggests good things ahead for the Guardians offense.
José Ramírez also contributed, going 1-for-4 with a home run and an RBI, Carter Kieboom chipped in, going 1-for-1 with an RBI, and Steven Kwan added to the attack, going 1-for-3 with a double. It was a balanced attack that kept the pressure on from the first pitch to the last.
On the other side of the diamond, Peyton Wilson led the Royals offense with a 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBI day. Connor Scott also contributed, going 1-for-1 with a home run and an RBI. Luca Tresh added a 1-for-3 with a home run and an RBI effort as well. Despite those contributions, the Guardians pitching staff did enough to limit the damage and secure the victory.
On the Mound
Parker Messick got the start, having a rough go of it, working 5.2 innings while allowing 4 earned runs on 7 hits with four strikeouts. He threw 87 pitches in the outing. His outing provided the coaching staff with another data point as rotation and bullpen decisions loom.
The bullpen combined for 3.1 innings of work, allowing 1 earned run while striking out four. The relief corps did its job in protecting the lead after the starter departed. Managing the bullpen workload is a key priority during the spring, and every outing helps the coaching staff gauge who is ready for high-leverage situations. Izaak Martinez recorded the save to close out the game.
Among the relievers, Tim Herrin stood out with 1.0 innings of scoreless work, striking out two. The outing gave the coaching staff confidence in his ability to contribute this season.
How It Happened
The Guardians struck first, pushing across a run in the first inning. Royals struck back with a run in the second. The Guardians answered with three runs in the second. Royals responded with a run in the third. Royals pushed across a run in the fourth. Royals plated a run in the fifth. Royals added a run in the seventh. The Guardians responded with a run in the seventh. The Guardians pushed across a run in the eighth. The Guardians spread their scoring across four different innings, applying consistent pressure throughout the game. Royals out-hit the Guardians 10-8, with 1 error committed between the two clubs. A crowd of 4,010 was on hand to take in the action.
Looking Ahead
It was a productive day for the Guardians, who continue to put the pieces in place ahead of the regular season. The coaching staff will take the positives from this outing and use the remaining spring games to finalize the roster. Days like this one suggest the Guardians are heading in the right direction as Opening Day draws closer.
