The Arizona Diamondbacks rolled to a 9-6 victory over the Cleveland Guardians at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on Sunday in spring training action. Ryan Waldschmidt paced the offense, going 3-for-3 with two doubles and two RBI, giving the coaching staff plenty to be encouraged about as the exhibition schedule continues. Michael Soroka worked 1.2 innings on the mound, allowing 3 earned runs on 4 hits. The Diamondbacks finished with 15 hits on the day while holding the Guardians to 10. It was an encouraging performance for the Diamondbacks as they continue sharpening the roster for the regular season. Games like these serve as a valuable measuring stick for where the team stands heading into the campaign.
Key Performers
Ryan Waldschmidt was the standout at the plate, going 3-for-3 with two doubles and two RBI. The ability to drive the ball into the gaps stood out. It was the kind of day at the plate that suggests good things ahead for the Diamondbacks offense.
Gabriel Moreno added to the attack, going 1-for-4 with two RBI, Tim Tawa provided support, going 1-for-3 with a double and two RBI, and Ildemaro Vargas also contributed, going 2-for-4 with an RBI. It was a balanced attack that kept the pressure on from the first pitch to the last.
On the other side of the diamond, Angel Martínez led the Guardians offense with a 1-for-2 with a home run and an RBI day. Dom Nuñez also contributed, going 1-for-3 with a home run and an RBI. Angel Genao added a 2-for-2 with two doubles and an RBI effort as well. Despite those contributions, the Diamondbacks pitching staff did enough to limit the damage and secure the victory.
On the Mound
Michael Soroka got the start, having a rough go of it, working 1.2 innings while allowing 3 earned runs on 4 hits with one strikeout. He threw 47 pitches in the outing. His outing provided the coaching staff with another data point as rotation and bullpen decisions loom.
The bullpen combined for 6.4 innings of work, allowing 3 earned runs while striking out nine. The relief corps did its job in protecting the lead after the starter departed. Managing the bullpen workload is a key priority during the spring, and every outing helps the coaching staff gauge who is ready for high-leverage situations. Spencer Giesting recorded the save to close out the game.
Among the relievers, Kevin Ginkel stood out with 1.0 innings of scoreless work, striking out two. The outing gave the coaching staff confidence in his ability to contribute this season.
How It Happened
Guardians got on the board first with a run in the first inning. Guardians tacked on two runs in the second. The Diamondbacks countered with two runs in the second. Guardians struck back with three runs in the fifth. The Diamondbacks answered with four runs in the fifth. The Diamondbacks tacked on three runs in the sixth. The Diamondbacks spread their scoring across three different innings, applying consistent pressure throughout the game. The Diamondbacks out-hit Guardians 15-10 on the day, with both teams playing clean defense. A crowd of 11,068 was on hand to take in the action.
Looking Ahead
It was a productive day for the Diamondbacks, who continue to put the pieces in place ahead of the regular season. The coaching staff will take the positives from this outing and use the remaining spring games to finalize the roster. Days like this one suggest the Diamondbacks are heading in the right direction as Opening Day draws closer.