By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
The Kansas City Royals were looking to gain some early ground in a competitive American League Central on Opening Day, but unfortunately fell to the Cleveland Guardians 7-4 in 10 innings to open the MLB season.
It didn't start out pretty for Kansas City either, as starting pitcher Cole Ragans faced a jam early on. Singles from Steven Kwan and Lane Thomas, and a walk to Kyle Manzardo loaded the bases up in the first inning with two outs. But Ragans showed why he was named the Opening Day starter for a second year in a row, striking out Jhonkensy Noel to end the top of the first.
After a scoreless bottom half by the Royals, Ragans recovered from a tough first with a three up, three down second inning, and again made quick work of Cleveland in the third before Kansas City went on to take the first lead of the game in the bottom half of the frame.
With two outs, and Kyle Isbel at second base after his double, Bobby Witt Jr. singled to keep the inning alive, bringing up designated hitter Vinnie Pasquantino, who hit the first Royals home run of the season deep to right center field to give Kansas City a 3-0 lead at the end of three innings.
The Guardians found their way onto the board in the fourth inning, after Manzardo tripled, Noel singled to drive him in to cut the lead to two. In the fifth, Gabriel Arias led off with a double, and after advancing to third on a sacrifice bunt by Kwan, went on to score thanks to a sacrifice fly from Jose Ramirez.
Ragans opened up the sixth inning on the mound, but after a leadoff single to Carlos Santana was pulled for Angel Zerpa, who on his first pitch gave up a two run, go ahead home run to Manzardo, to give Cleveland the 4-3 lead, allowing the Guardians to hand the game off to a bullpen that was one of the best in the league last year.
And that bullpen lived up to that name, holding that lead until the ninth inning, when closer Emmanuel Clase entered the game. Pasquantino led off with a double, and was replaced by pinch runner Freddy Fermin, who came around to score on a sacrifice fly by Michael Massey tying up the game.
Kansas City did have an opportunity to win in the inning as well. With Salvador Perez at second base, following a Maikel Garcia single, new Royal Mark Canha stepped up to the plate, but struck out to end the ninth inning to send the game to extras, where the game ended up in disaster.
Starting the top of the tenth, with Brayan Rocchio at second base, Kwan doubled to score him, and after a flyout by Ramirez, and ground out by Thomas, reliever Sam Long intentionally walked Santana, to face Manzardo, who on a 3-2 count doubled to score both Kwan and Santana, pushing the Guardians lead to 7-4. Manzardo finished a single shy of the cycle. The Royals went on to go 1-2-3 in the bottom of the 10th, securing the save for Cleveland reliever Paul Sewald, giving Clase the win.
Pasquantino led the Royals in hitting, going 2 for 3 with a home run and three RBI's. Manzardo led the Guardians hitting 3 for 4 with four RBI's. Ragans pitched five innings, struck out three, walked two, and gave up five hits while giving up three runs in a no decision.
Kansas City and Cleveland will have a day off on Friday, and will be back in action on Saturday. Seth Lugo is slated to start for the Royals, the Guardians starter has yet to be announced. First pitch will be at 3:10, coverage will begin at 2:30 on KFEQ (680AM/95.3FM).
You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.