Guardians Blank Royals 7-0 Behind Arias and Martínez’s Stellar Performances

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Gabriel Arias and Angel Martínez played significant roles in the Cleveland Guardians’ 7-0 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Friday night at Progressive Field. The game featured impressive offense and solid defense, helping the Guardians secure their second shutout win of the season.

Arias broke a scoreless tie in the fourth inning with a three-run home run off Royals starter Kris Bubic, marking his second homer of the season. Arias, who previously struggled with a 15-at-bat hitless streak, showcased his potential with three hits, a pair of singles, and strong defensive play at second base. “He is one of the most talented players on the planet,” manager Stephen Vogt said. “It’s been really fun to watch.”

Martínez, filling in for his first big league game this season, also contributed with three hits, including a double, matching his career high. He added a sacrifice fly in the eighth inning, extending Cleveland’s lead to four runs and helping the team match a season-high 11 hits.

Bubic entered the game not having allowed an earned run in his last two starts; however, he succumbed to pressure as the Guardians capitalized on early walks, setting the stage for Arias’ pivotal hit. Bubic’s mistake on the first pitch to Arias—a fastball down and in—resulted in a hit that sailed over the right-field wall.

Guardians starting pitcher Tanner Bibee earned praise for his resilience. After a shaky outing in Los Angeles last week, he rebounded, allowing just three hits over 4 2/3 scoreless innings. “Didn’t have his command early, but found ways to get outs, and that’s what big-time pitchers do,” Vogt noted, emphasizing Bibee’s ability to navigate crises during the game.

Defensive highlight plays characterized the game, particularly Arias’ stellar catches, including one that doubled up Salvador Pérez on a pop fly. Arias attributes his success to diligent preparation, stating through interpreter Agustin Rivero, “It was more the preparation, pregame, all the work that we did.”

The Guardians reinforced their lead in the eighth inning, scoring four more runs. Martinez’s sacrifice fly allowed pinch-hitter Nolan Jones to score, followed by an RBI single from Steven Kwan, who contributed significantly by finishing the game with four hits.

With the victory, the Guardians continued their positive trend, winning six of their last eight meetings with Kansas City dating back to August 2024. Cleveland’s defense, which had struggled earlier in the season, showed improvement as they rounded out the game with a spectacular play from Martínez who ended the contest with a diving catch.

Bubic’s night resulted in a loss despite his earlier successes, as his tough outing continued Cleveland’s effective performance against left-handed pitchers, highlighting a trend from their successful season last year when they led MLB against southpaws.

The team is looking ahead to continue their momentum. The series against the Royals continues Saturday with a first pitch set for 6:10 p.m. Guardians fans can tune in via CLEGuardians.TV, WTAM 1100 AM, WMMS 100.7 FM, and the Guardians Radio Network.