Gabriel Arias breaks out of slump as Guardians beat Royals

Gabriel Arias clubbed a fourth-inning, three-run homer for one of his three hits, and five Cleveland pitchers held the visiting Kansas City Royals to five hits, as the Guardians won their fourth straight, 7-0 on Friday night.

After going 0-for-14 in his previous four games, Arias showed off his power against Kansas City's Kris Bubic (2-1), who had not allowed an earned run in his first two 2025 starts. Arias provided more than enough offense for the Guardians to win again fresh off a sweep of the Chicago White Sox.

Angel Martinez also had three hits, plus a sacrifice fly, which along with RBI singles from Steven Kwan and Carlos Santana highlighted a four-run eighth inning for Cleveland, which improved to 3-1 against the Royals this season.

The Guardians' Tanner Bibee yielded three hits, walked four and struck out four while lasting just 4 2/3 innings. Cleveland's Tim Herrin (2-0), Cade Smith, Hunter Gaddis and Tristan McKenzie combined to allow two hits, a walk and strike out three.

Bobby Witt Jr. had two hits and walked twice for Kansas City, which won four of five entering the opener of a 10-game road trip, but has been held to five runs over the last four contests and has been shut out twice during that stretch.

Meanwhile, Bubic's run of 15 2/3 innings of not allowing an earned run to open the season ended in the fourth inning Friday.

The right-hander walked Kyle Manzardo to open the frame and Jhonkensy Noel reached on third baseman Jonathan India's throwing error. Then, Arias, who also homered during a 6-2 win at Kansas City on March 30, deposited an opposite field drive over the right-field wall for a 3-0 Cleveland lead.

In the sixth inning, Arias, playing second base Friday, also made a nifty reaching catch of a Michael Massey pop fly to short right field, then quickly threw to first base to double-up runner Salvador Perez.

Bubic was officially charged with two earned runs, plus six hits and two walks, while striking out five over six innings for the Royals, who were coming off a 5-2 homestand.

--Field Level Media