Kyle Manzardo was 3-for-4 with a homer and four RBIs Thursday for the Cleveland Guardians, who overcame a blown save by All-Star closer Emmanuel Clase to beat the host Kansas City Royals, 7-4, in 10 innings in an Opening Day clash.
Steven Kwan led off the 10th inning with the tiebreaking RBI double for the defending American League Central champion Guardians, who have won both their season openers under second-year manager Stephen Vogt.
Manzardo began the Guardians’ comeback from a 3-0 deficit in the fourth, when he tripled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Jhonkensy Noel. Jose Ramirez lofted another sacrifice fly in the fifth before Manzardo greeted Angel Zerpa by hitting a two-run homer on the first pitch he saw in the sixth.
The 24-year-old, who made his first Opening Day roster this season, added insurance with a two-out, two-run double off Sam Long (0-1) in the 10th.
Paul Sewald earned the save with a perfect 10th.
Kwan had two hits.
Vinnie Pasquantino, who was questionable entering the game due to a right hamstring injury he suffered last Saturday, hit a three-run homer in the third before he began the Royals’ comeback by lacing a leadoff double against Clase (1-0) in the ninth.
Salvador Perez followed with a single to send pinch runner Freddy Fermin to third before Fermin trotted home on Michael Massey’s sacrifice fly to the track in right.
Clase was 47-of-49 in regular season save opportunities last season, when he posted an 0.61 ERA and finished third in the American League Cy Young Award balloting, before he went 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA and two saves in three chances over seven playoff appearances.
Pasquantino was the only player with multiple hits for the Royals, who fell to 0-3 on Opening Day under manager Matt Quatraro.
Neither starter factored into the decision after five-inning outings.
The Guardians’ Ben Lively, who was pressed into duty when Tanner Bibee was scratched due to food poisoning, gave up three runs on four hits and no walks while striking out three. The Royals’ Cole Ragans allowed three runs on five hits and two walks while whiffing three.
–Field Level Media
