Kyle Manzardo powers Guardians to extra-innings win in Kansas City on Opening Day

Opening Day was quite eventful for the Cleveland Guardians and Kansas City Royals. A back-and-forth affair requiring extra innings to determine a winner, with the Guardians coming out on top thanks to an impressive performance from designated hitter Kyle Manzardo.

Manzardo would collect three extra-base hits in the contest, finishing a single shy of hitting for the cycle. Each one of Manzardo's hits would play a pivotal role in Cleveland's victory, including what would end up being the game-deciding runs.

A triple in the 4th inning would put him in position to score on a Jhonkensy Noel sacrifice fly, cutting into Kansas City's then 3-0 lead. This sequence in the 4th would be the beginning of a very eventful few innings for the Guardians, (more on that later).

Finding themsleves down 3-2 in the 6th, Manzardo would come to the plate with Carlos Santana on first following his leadoff single that chased Royals starter Cole Ragans from the contest. Manzardo would go on to crush a first-pitch sinker that was middle in over the fence to give Cleveland a 4-3 lead over Kansas City.

Cleveland would hold the lead until the 9th inning when Emmanuel Clase came on for his first save attempt of the season. Unfortunately, Kansas City would scratch a run across to tie the game, ultimately forcing extras.

After Steven Kwan would switch places with Brayan Rocchio via a leadoff double in the 10th, the Guardians were holding on to a slim, one-run lead with Kwan on third and Santana on first. An in-motion Santana would get things started as Manzardo would drive a pitch into right field, resulting in both runs coming across to score and Manzo standing on second with a 7-4 lead. This proved to be the game-winning hit, and the score would stand with the Guardians moving to 1-0 on the year.

A defensive sequence for the ages

Not to be outshined by the outstanding performance of Manzardo, the Guardians found themselves with their backs against the wall in the 8th inning.

Hunter Gaddis had walked Cavan Biggio to lead off the inning, who was pinch-ran for by Dairon Blanco, who would subsequently go on to steal second base on the very first pitch. A bunt off the bat of Kyle Isbel was misplayed by Gaddis, putting men on first and third with none out in the inning while holding a one-run lead. The pressure was on for the Guardians to make a play defensively, and they would do exactly that.

Jonathan India would ground the ball to Jose Ramirez at third and who would fire the ball to Bo Naylor at home, forcing Blanco to turn back and get caught in a rundown. Blanco's out on the basepaths was made worse, as Isbel attempted to advance to third during the rundown sequence between home and third. Isbel was forced to retreat from third back to second base, but was tagged out as Indiana would advance to second during Isbel's baserunning blunder.

The Guardians managing to get out of this situation unscathed was absolutely necessary if they were going to come out on top in this game. There is a very real scenario that sees the Royals win in regulation if the Guardians are not able to capitalize on Kansas City's uncharacteristic bad baserunning in this situation.

Ben Lively to the rescue

Tanner Bibee was originally slated to start on Opening Day for Cleveland but was scratched the day off due to an illness. Ben Lively was called upon to take his spot and, much like he did last season, would provide a more than adequate performance that kept the Guardians in the game.

Lively would allow three runs on four hits in 5 innings, all three runs coming on a Vinnie Pasquantino home run. Besides the home run, it was a successful outing for Lively on the mound, pitching more than half of regulation and mostly keeping an offense that can give even the best pitchers in the game plenty of trouble. More could not have been asked of Lively, especially considering that he was bumped up in the rotation to accommodate the absence of an unavailable Bibee.

The Guardians and Royals are off on Friday and will play the final two games of their three-game set on Saturday and Sunday at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City.