Diamondbacks Fall to Guardians in Final Spring Tune-up

PHOENIX, Ariz. — The Arizona Diamondbacks faced off against the Cleveland Guardians in their final exhibition game before Opening Day, losing 4-3 at Chase Field on Monday night. The game featured solid defensive plays and pitching performances, but the Diamondbacks struggled to convert at-bats into runs.

Arizona’s veteran left-hander Eduardo Rodríguez made his last appearance before the regular season opener against the Chicago Cubs. Rodríguez pitched 4.1 innings, allowing three runs on three hits, one walk, and striking out five batters. He reached 76 pitches, demonstrating the velocity and command needed to build toward a higher pitch count in the upcoming season.

Rodríguez finished the spring with an ERA of 2.70, having pitched 10 innings, given up three runs, and secured 12 strikeouts. This performance builds optimism towards his role as the Diamondbacks’ No. 4 starter, especially after a challenging 2024 season limited by injury.

“I feel ready for the season,” Rodríguez said. “I’ve worked hard this spring, and I’m looking forward to being an important part of this rotation.”

The Guardians struck first with a strong offensive performance, scoring four runs on 11 hits. Leading the charge was Steven Kwan, who went three-for-four with a run scored and an RBI triple. José Ramírez added two hits, including an RBI single.

Diamondbacks’ offense remained quiet for most of the night, managing only six hits. Gabriel Moreno recorded a crucial double but was left stranded on third base during the fifth inning. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. struggled, grounding into double plays twice.

The ninth inning saw a brief rally from the Diamondbacks’ minor leaguers, with Gavin Conticello and Waldschmidt contributing to a late surge that included a double from Anderson Rojas and a run scored on a wild pitch.

“We need to find a way to string together hits in crucial moments,” said Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo. “We had opportunities, but we couldn’t capitalize, and that’s something we’ll address before the season starts.”

For the Guardians, right-hander Gavin Williams also had an impressive outing in his final preparation before Opening Day, pitching five scoreless innings, allowing five hits, and striking out five. His ERA for spring training concluded at an impressive 2.08.

“I felt good tonight,” Williams said post-game. “I’m looking to carry this momentum into the season.”

The Guardians conclude their exhibition series against the Diamondbacks with one final game today at Chase Field, set to start at 12:40 p.m. Arizona’s Jordan Montgomery is expected to take the mound against Cleveland’s Luis Ortiz. Both teams will begin their regular seasons later this week, ensuring the competition heats up as Opening Day approaches.