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by Bill Althaus, Grain Valley News Kansas City's Opening Day game Thursday afternoon at Kauffman Stadium should have been a time for a healthy Vinnie Pasquantino to celebrate with Royals teammates. He hit a third-inning three-run homer that gave the Royals an early 3-0 lead and later added a double to his explosive Opening Day offensive presence, but a botched running-the-bases mishap and some ineffective relief performances helped the Cleveland Guardians overcome that early deficit to claim a 7-4 10-inning victory over Kansas City. The Royals dropped to 20-37 in Opening Day games while losing their third consecutive Opening Day contest. "I'm still looking for my first Opening Day win," Pasquantino said to a group of reporters surrounding his locker. "We didn't win the game, so there's nothing to celebrate." Pasquantino is coming off a 2024 season in which he drove in 97 runs, smacked 19 home runs and hit .262 in 131 games. He missed the final month of the regular season with a broken right thumb but was able to return to the Royals' lineup for the postseason. He then missed a portion of spring training with a Grade 1 hamstring strain. But he looked to be in top shape as the team's designated hitter against the Guardians. "All the guys love Vinnie," said starter Cole Ragans, who allowed three runs in 5+ innings. "He means so much to everyone. He works his butt off and guys see that and appreciate what he means to our team." Manager Matt Quatraro added, "Vinnie had a good day at the plate. It's great to have him back." Despite the loss, the personable Pasquantino carried on a lengthy postgame visit with the media. "It's good to be back, to see how I feel and to see if my timing's back," Pasquantino said. "And Bobby (Witt Jr.) deserves a lot of credit for getting that (infield) single in the third to keep the inning going, which allowed me the chance to hit the home run. "That had to be the fastest any player has ever run to first base. Look it up! That's why he's the best - he can do it all." After the Royals took that 3-0 lead, the Guardians scored solo runs in the fourth and fifth innings and took a 4-3 lead in the sixth on Kyle Manzardo's two-run homer off reliever Angel Zerpa. A bizarre base-running gaffe then ruined any chances of Kansas City tying the game or taking the lead in the bottom of the eighth inning. Kansas City's Cavan Biggio opened the inning with a walk and left the game as pinch runner Dairon Blank took over at first base and immediately stole second. Kyle Isbel then put down a perfect bunt that reliever Hunter Gaddis could not field, giving the Royals runners at first and third base with no outs. But the excitement of the first-and-third situation quickly disappeared when Jonathan India hit into fielder's choice double play - third baseman José Ramírez to catcher Bo Naylor to Ramírez to second baseman Gabriel Arias, wiping both runners off the basepaths. Blanco got out at home, and Isbel was wiped off third base. Witt Jr. struck out for the third time to end the inning. "We work on those base-running situations all the time in spring training," the classy Isbel said. "And they work 999 out of 1,000 times. Today, it didn't work. But that shouldn't take away from all the good things we did today. It's going to be a dog fight every time we play Cleveland." The never-say-die Royals managed to tie the game at 4-4 in the bottom of the ninth on Michael Massey's RBI fly out to right field. The Guardians roared back with a three-run 10th, with Manzardo's two-run double the big hit of the inning. Kansas City was retired in order in the bottom of the inning. "I wish we played Friday," Pasquantino said, referring to the off-day following an Opening Day game, in case weather cancels the opener. "We have 161 games left, and we'll be ready for every one of those games." A crowd of 39,393 watched the game at sold-out Kauffman Stadium. It was the largest crowd at The K since April 10, 2017.  Kansas City Royals manager Matt Quatraro addresses the highs and lows of Thursday's 7-3 Opening Day loss to the Cleveland Guardians. Photo credit: Bill Althaus  Vinnie Pasquantino hit a three-run homer and added a double, but said he couldn't embrace his success at the plate because the Cleveland Guardians defeated the Kansas City Royals 7-3 in extra innings Thursday afternoon at Kauffman stadium. Photo credit: Bill Althaus  Photo credit: Bill Althaus  by Bill Althaus, Grain Valley News Salvador Perez heads into his 14th year with the Kansas City Royals sporting the same smile, carrying a big piece of lumber and experiencing the same Opening Day excitement that has been present since he joined the team in 2011. When asked Thursday's 3:10 p.m. Opening Day start against the Cleveland Guardians he grinned, saying that Opening Days have never changed for him since he first put on a Royals jersey. "From my first one - a long, long time ago (grinning) - to Thursday, all my Opening Days have been the same," said Perez, a likely first-round Hall of Famer who hit .271 in 158 games last season along with 104 RBIs. I'm excited. I feel it right here (point to his chest), they are like playing in the seventh game of the World Series. "And we open this season in front of the best fans in baseball." He quickly added, "I get this feeling every Opening Day - I'm nervous, I'm excited - and when I no longer feel that way I will know it is time to retire." Perez is the lone holdover from Kansas City's 2015 World Championship team, and he was rewarded last season as the Royals made it to postseason, where they lost to the New York Yankees - who went on to represent the American League in the 2024 World Series. "You get that same feeling that you get on Opening Day when you play in the playoffs," Perez said. "We didn't like the way last season ended, but we have so many memories from last season. And now, the younger guys know what it's like to make the playoffs, and we all believe we will be in the playoffs this season. "Tomorrow we start to play, and we play a lot of games, but it amazing to be on a team that feels like we could win the World Series. We've done it before, and we want to do it again." Cole Ragans, who finished fourth in the balloting for the American League Cy Young Award in 2024 will be the Royals Opening Day pitcher. "I get nervous before every start," said Ragans, who was 11-9 with a 3.14 ERA last season, "and I really get nervous on Opening Day. I'm also excited." "While the end of last season left a bad taste in everyone's mouth, we did a lot of good things last year. Today, being back in the stadium really made me feel good. To be back with the boys at the stadium, to sense the excitement from our fans and to get ready for Thursday's game is a great feeling."  Kansas City Royals catcher and fan favorite, Salvador Perez, talked about the excitement of Thursday's Opening Day against the Cleveland Guardians before a team workout Wednesday afternoon at Kauffman Stadium. Photo credit: Bill Althaus  Cole Ragans, who finished fourth in American League balloting for the Cy Young Award in 2024, will be on the mound when the Kansas City Royals host the Cleveland Guardians on Opening Day, at 3:10 p.m. Thursday at Kauffman Stadium. Photo credit: Bill Althaus  |
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