The Cleveland Guardians picked up a 12-6 victory over the Athletics at Goodyear Ballpark on Sunday in spring training action. David Fry paced the offense, going 1-for-4 with a home run and three RBI, giving the coaching staff plenty to be encouraged about as the exhibition schedule continues. Tanner Bibee worked 5.2 innings on the mound, allowing 6 earned runs on 13 hits. Both clubs finished with 15 hits apiece in a closely contested battle. The Guardians will take confidence from a well-rounded effort on both sides of the ball. Spring training is about building toward the regular season, and this was a step in the right direction.
Key Performers
David Fry was the standout at the plate, going 1-for-4 with a home run and three RBI. His power was on full display throughout the game. The Guardians will be hoping for more of the same as the spring continues.
Rhys Hoskins added to the attack, going 1-for-2 with a home run and two RBI, CJ Kayfus provided support, going 2-for-3 with a home run and an RBI, and Chase DeLauter also contributed, going 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI. Multiple contributors at the plate made life difficult for the opposing pitching staff.
On the other side of the diamond, Leo De Vries led the Athletics offense with a 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI day. Colby Thomas also contributed, going 2-for-4 with a home run and an RBI. Cade Marlowe added a 1-for-4 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
Tanner Bibee got the start, running into trouble, working 5.2 innings while allowing 6 earned runs on 13 hits with five strikeouts. He threw 85 pitches in the outing. The coaching staff will review his performance as they continue mapping out the pitching plan for the regular season.
The bullpen was excellent, combining for 3.1 scoreless innings while striking out three. The Guardians continue to sort through their relief options as they build their Opening Day bullpen. Every inning pitched in the spring is an opportunity for pitchers to make their case for a spot on the roster when the games start counting.
Among the relievers, Colin Holderman stood out with 1.1 innings of scoreless work, striking out two. It was an impressive showing that could factor into roster decisions.
How It Happened
Athletics got on the board first with a run in the first inning. The Guardians responded with four runs in the first. Athletics countered with a run in the second. The Guardians struck back with two runs in the second. Athletics answered with two runs in the fifth. Athletics tacked on two runs in the sixth. The Guardians countered with four runs in the sixth. The Guardians plated two runs in the seventh. The Guardians spread their scoring across four different innings, applying consistent pressure throughout the game. Both teams finished with 15 hits apiece, with both teams playing clean defense. A crowd of 4,706 was on hand to take in the action.
Looking Ahead
The Guardians will look to build on this positive performance as spring training winds down. With the regular season rapidly approaching, outings like this one provide confidence and continuity for a roster that is rounding into form. Every remaining exhibition game is another chance to sharpen the details before the games start counting for real.
