Guardians score, recap vs Royals | Kyle Manzardo lifts Cleveland to a win in extra innings

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Guardians score, recap vs Royals | Kyle Manzardo lifts Cleveland to a win in extra innings

Ryan Lewis, Akron Beacon Journal · Akron Beacon Journal

Thu, Mar 27, 2025 ·

8 min read

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Baseball is here — and so is some clarity on how to watch Guardians games this season.

The Guardians opened the 2025 regular season Thursday afternoon against the Royals in Kansas City , kicking off what could be a close, four-way American League Central race with a 7-4 victory in extra innings.

Tanner Bibee , recently signed to a long-term extension , was scheduled to take the ball for the Guardians but was sick and therefore unavailable. Ben Lively was given the start in his place. The Royals countered with Cole Ragans .

Here's how Thursday's game unfolded.

Guardians beat the Royals; Paul Sewald gets the save

The Guardians had a close call in left-center field with Steven Kwan and Lane Thomas both going for the ball, but Paul Sewald closed the door to secure a 7-4 win over the Royals on Opening Day.

A back-and-forth, extra-innings game seems like a pretty indicator of the AL Central race that could follow this season.

Mar 27, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Cleveland Guardians designated hitter Kyle Manzardo (9) scores a run against Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez (13) during the fourth inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

Kyle Manzardo drives in two runs with a double in extra innings

If the 2025 regular season was one day, Kyle Manzardo is the league MVP.

Manzardo came through for the Guardians yet again in the 10th, grounding a two-run, two-out double down the right-field line to extend Cleveland 's lead to 7-4.

Manzardo today is 3-for-4 with a home run, a triple, a double, four RBIs, two runs scored and a walk. He's a single short of the cycle.

Manzardo is the third Cleveland hitter with four RBIs on Opening Day, joining Tris Speaker in 1925 and Leon Wagner in 1964. He's also just the third player in MLB history to record a home run, triple and double on Opening Day, joining Don Baylor in 1973 and Gee Walker in 1937.

Steven Kwan double puts Guardians on top in 10th

Facing Royals lefty Sam Long , Steven Kwan led off the 10th inning with an RBI double to scored the free runner and put Cleveland ahead 5-4.

Royals tie it against Emmanuel Clase in 9th; Guardians, Kansas City headed to extra innings

The Royals have tied it, and Emmanuel Clase is already 0-for-1 in save chances this season. Last year, Clase blew only three saves.

With the tying run on third, Michael Massey hit a ball to deep right field to easily score the run and tie it 4-4.

Clase recovered to end the inning, and the Guardians and Royals are headed to the 10th inning.

Royals have rally going against Emmanuel Clase in 9th inning

The Royals once again have runners on the corners with nobody out — this time in the ninth inning and with Emmanuel Clase on the mound.

Vinnie Pasquantino doubled to lead off the inning, and Salvador Perez then singled to center field.

Royals baserunning blunder leads to double play; Hunter Gaddis strikes out Bobby Witt Jr. to end 8th

The Royals looked to be well on their way to tying it or taking the lead against Guardians reliever Hunter Gaddis in the eighth inning — then they just ran themselves out of the inning.

With the Guardians clinging to a one-run lead, a walk and an error by Gaddis put runners on the corners with nobody out and the top of the Royals lineup coming up.

India grounded a ball to Jose Ramirez at third base, and somehow pinch runner Dairon Blanco was caught between third base and home plate. He was eventually tagged out, and the Guardians then also caught Kyle Isbel between second and third base, which led to a second run-down.

The 5-2-5-4-6 double play led to Gaddis striking out Bobby Witt Jr. to end the eighth inning with the Guardians still holding onto the lead.

Cade Smith enters, Ben Lively's start is done; Guardians lead Royals

Cade Smith gets the first call to the bullpen of the season for the Guardians, and he delivered a scoreless inning with two strikeouts, including one of Bobby Witt Jr. Smith looks every bit the dominant reliever he was last year.

Lively gave up three runs — all on one swing — on four hits with three strikeouts in five innings.

Kyle Manzardo hits go-ahead home run sixth inning; Guardians, Royals score update

Kyle Manzardo is having himself a day on Opening Day.

Already with a triple under his belt today, Manzardo in the sixth inning belted a two-run, go-ahead home run off Royals reliever Angel Zerpa — who had just entered the game — to give the Guardians a 4-3 lead.

Manzardo today: 2-for-2, a home run, a triple, two RBIs, two runs scored. And the Guardians have their first lead of the day.

Manzardo finished the 2024 regular season on a high note and then put together a great spring.

Cole Ragans is out of the game. And for the Guardians, Cade Smith has been warming.

Guardians make it one-run score vs Royals in 5th inning

The Guardians continue to chip away.

In the fifth, Gabriel Arias doubled and Brayan Rocchio drew a walk with nobody out. Steven Kwan then laid down a sacrifice bunt — perhaps a questionable decision while down two and with a potential rally brewing — which led to a sacrifice fly off the bat of Jose Ramirez to score Arias and make it 3-2.

Mar 27, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Ben Lively (39) pitches during the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

Kyle Manzardo, Jhonkensy Noel score Guardians' first run of the season

Kyle Manzardo hit a triple via a ball that got caught up in the right-field corner and later scored on a foul ball down the right-field line off the bat Jhonkensy Noel, cutting the Royals lead to 3-1 in the fourth.

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - MARCH 27: Vinnie Pasquantino #9 of the Kansas City Royals celebrates with Kyle Isbel #28 and Bobby Witt Jr. #7 after hitting a three-run home run against the Cleveland Guardians during the third inning on Opening Day at Kauffman Stadium on March 27, 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Vinnie Pasquantino hits 3-run home run off Ben Lively

The Royals have struck first, and in a big way.

Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino drilled a three-run home run with two outs to right field to put the Royals up 3-0 in the third inning. It was made possible after Bobby Witt Jr. hit an infield single, beating out a throw from Brayan Rocchio and what would have been a nice play.

Witt's single extended the inning, and Pasquantino made it count.

Bo Naylor , Carlos Santana collide going for pop-up

The infield communication didn't look great on a pop-up on Thursday.

Jonathan India n popped a ball up not far in front of home plate. Catcher Bo Naylor and first baseman Carlos Santana both appeared to call it, with the former camping under it and the latter charging in. The two collided just as the ball found Naylor's glove.

He held onto it for the out, but Naylor and Santana both needed to be checked out by the team's medical staff. Both looked to be shaking the cobwebs away, so to speak.

And both are staying in the game.

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - MARCH 27: Carlos Santana #41 and Bo Naylor #23 of the Cleveland Guardians collide while attempting to catch a pop up against the Kansas City Royals during the third inning on Opening Day at Kauffman Stadium on March 27, 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Guardians, Royals score: Cleveland, Kansas City still scoreless through 2 innings

Cole Ragans looked sharper in the second, and Ben Lively again kept the Royals off the board, though K.C. has their first hit of the day, a bloop single.

Mar 27, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Cole Ragans (55) pitches during the first inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

Ben Lively breezes through first inning

That was a quick first inning for Ben Lively, who just put down the Royals 1-2-3 on nine pitches and struck out MVP candidate Bobby Witt Jr. looking.

Cole Ragans escapes bases-loaded jam; Guardians, Royals still tied on Opening Day

The Guardians applied plenty of pressure, but Royals starter Cole Ragans was able to escape the inning unscathed aside from a higher pitch count.

After Kwan's swinging single, Lane Thomas blooped a single into center field and Kyle Manzardo later drew a walk to load the bases. With two outs, Ragans struck out Jhonkensy Noel to end the inning.

Ragans kept it tied, though he needed 22 pitches to get through the first inning.

Guardians, Royals score update: Steven Kwan opens 2025 season with infield hit

It took one swing for "Guards Ball" to return in 2025.

Leading off Thursday's game against Cole Ragans, Steven Kwan reached first via a swinging but single that rolled perfectly down the third-base line and somehow stayed in play.

Aug 28, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians catcher Bo Naylor (23) celebrates after hitting a home run during the seventh inning against the Kansas City Royals at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Below is some pregame information.

How can I watch, stream Guardians games? MLB announces viewing options for Cleveland baseball

Major League Baseball released additional information on viewing options for Guardians baseball Thursday morning.

What channels will Guardians games be on

AT&T U-verse (Channel 736 or 1736)
COX (Channel 80)
DIRECTV Satellite and Streaming (Channel 662)
MCTV Stark, Wayne, Jefferson, Columbiana and Carroll counties (Channel 632/32); Woodsfield (Channel 30, HD with a set top box); Belmont County (Channel 29.1, 29 in HD with a set top box)
Spectrum for most of Ohio, Pennsylvania, and most of Kentucky (Channels 306, 1306)

Cleveland Guardians Opening Day roster set

The Guardians' Opening Day roster is set , with the 26th spot being announced Thursday.

Tanner Bibee scratched as Guardians starting pitcher, Ben Lively to start Opening Day

Tanner Bibee just signed a five-year, $48 million extension, but he'll miss his first outing since inking that deal, as he came down with a sickness . Ben Lively will instead take the mound in Kansas City.

Guardians starting lineup

Steven Kwan, LF
Jose Ramirez, 3B
Lane Thomas, CF
Carlos Santana, 1B
Kyle Manzardo, DH
Jhonkensy Noel, RF
Bo Naylor, C
Gabriel Arias, 2B
Brayan Rocchio, SS

Royals Opening Day lineup

Jonathan India, 3B
Bobby Witt. Jr, SS
Vinnie Pasquantino, DH
Salvador Perez, C
Michael Massey, 2B
Hunter Renfroe , RF
MJ Melendez , LF
Cavan Biggio , 1B
Kyle Isbel, CF

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cleveland Guardians score, lineup, live updates vs Kansas City Royals

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