ST Game Recap: Guardians 4, Giants 5

Forget Playing Freebird, Play Tyler Freeman More

We’re officially less than a week away from the Opening Day for MLB and, more importantly, the start of the 2025 Cleveland Guardians season. However, before that happens the Guardians took on the San Francisco Giants in Scottsdale, Arizona. Ben Lively got the start for the Guardians while Logan Webb took the bump for the Giants on a Friday afternoon in the desert. Unfortunately, the Guardians did drop the game after a three-run inning by the home team losing 5-4.

Lively lived up to his name as he had a very lively game for the Guardians on the mound. He went on to complete a full six innings issuing two earned runs on four hits while walking two and striking out five in the process. Lively, however, did give up a home run to Matt Chapman in the bottom of the sixth to get behind 2-1. Overall though, a solid performance for Lively on the mound seeing his ERA go to 3.38, and looks to be the number three starter in the rotation behind Tanner Bibee and Gavin Williams going into the start of the season.

A good sight for the Guardians was seeing Triston McKenzie pitching an inning of work walking two but did manage two strikeouts in his outing. He went on to see his ERA during the Spring drop to a 7.50 ERA. It begs the question, could he be a better fit to come out of the bullpen instead of being a starter? It is something to think about during the 2025 regular season for the Guardians.

The Guardians looked to be setting themselves up for the win as they were up 4-2 going into the bottom of the eighth after scoring three runs in the top of the frame. However, it was short-lived as the Giants scored three runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning. Joey Cantillo, who seemed to be destined for the bullpen to start the season, pitched one inning giving up two hits while also allowing three runs. It was Brett Wiseley who came in to pinch hit for the Giants and hit a three-run home run in his only at-bat of the game. Cantillo already had two outs in the inning and two on base before the Wisely blast. The home run gave the Giants a 5-4 lead which became the game-winning knock. Cantillo has been having an up-and-down Spring and this was the latter seeing him go 1-3 taking the loss and the blown save. His ERA went up to 7.82 after one inning of work. He did manage to strike out one batter in the process.

In terms of hitting, the Guardians did have some productivity from the offense.

• - Tyler Freeman went two for three with an RBI and a walk. He’s been playing great baseball all Spring for the Guardians. His batting average is up to .308 with a 1.080 OPS. There is a case for him to be getting the majority of starts at second base this upcoming season.
• - Jhonkensy Noel went three for four with an RBI seeing his average go up to .306 and having a .735 OPS. If he can keep his average over. 270 on the season, watch out for a huge season from Big Christmas.
• - Gabriel Arias went one for four while hitting a two-run home run to cap off the Guardians’ three-run top of the eighth inning.
• - Ralphy Velazquez went two for four while scoring a run
• The next game for the Guardians (10-17) will be on Saturday, March 22 in Goodyear, Arizona as they take on the San Diego Padres (11-16). Opening Day starter Tanner Bibee (2-0, 0.00 ERA, 7 K) will start for the Guardians while Kyle Hart (0-1, 6.00 ERA, 3 K) starts for the visiting Padres. Fans can listen to the game on WTAM 1100 or on Guardians Radio Network. First pitch is scheduled for 4:05 p.m. Eastern.