Royals lose season opener to Guardians in extras

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

The defending American League Central Division champions have spoiled MLB Opening Day at Kauffman Stadium.

The Royals (0-1) forced extra innings with a late rally but was unable to overcome the Guardians (1-0), falling 7-4 in 10 frames to begin the 2025 campaign.

Vinnie Pasquantino scored Kansas City's first three runs of the season in the third inning, belting his first home run of the year into the right field bullpen to give his team a 3-0 lead.

However, Cleveland slowly started to erase that deficit. Jhonkensy Noel and Jose Ramírez each hit sacrifice flies in the fourth and fifth innings to cut Kansas City's lead down to one run. Cole Ragans exited his MLB Opening Day start in the sixth inning with one runner on base, finishing with three earned runs on five hits with three strikeouts over five frames.

Angel Zerpa relieved Ragans out of the bullpen, but his first pitch to Kyle Manzardo went 424-feet into the right-center field fountain for a go-ahead two-run home run, putting the visitors ahead for the first time 4-3 in the sixth inning.

Down to their final three outs, the Royals rallied in the ninth frame. After Pasquantino hit a leadoff double to begin the inning, Salvador Perez put runners on the corners with a single to center field. Michael Massey followed up those hits with a game-tying sacrifice fly to right field, but Kansas City stranded the winning run on second base.

Then, Cleveland assembled a three-run cushion in the final frame, courtesy of two run-scoring doubles from Steven Kwan and Manzardo. From there, Paul Sewald sat the Royals down in order in the home half of the inning to end the game.

Pasquantino posted the team's only multi-hit performance, recording two hits and three RBI's. Perez, Massey, Maikel Garcia, Kyle Isbel and Bobby Witt Jr. also contributed to Kansas City's seven hits. Cleveland had 10 hits, led by Manzardo's three-hit effort at the plate.

Up next - The Royals resume their three-game series with the Guardians on Saturday, March 29 at 3:10 p.m.