On February 23, 2025, the Cleveland Guardians overwhelmed the Los Angeles Angels with a 14-2 victory in a Spring Training matchup at Goodyear Ballpark, Goodyear, Arizona. The Guardians showcased their offensive depth and pitching prowess, capitalizing on a trio of home runs and a dominant bullpen performance to secure the win. The Angels, hampered by early pitching struggles and limited offensive output, couldn’t keep pace. Below is a detailed recap of the game, including player stats and key moments, sourced from verified data on ESPN, FOX Sports, and USA TODAY.
Match Summary
- Sport: Baseball
- League: MLB (Major League Baseball)
- Event: Spring Training
- Date: February 23, 2025
- Venue: Goodyear Ballpark, Goodyear, Arizona
- Matchup: Los Angeles Angels vs Cleveland Guardians Match Player Stats
- Final Score: Guardians 14 – Angels 2
- Winner: Cleveland Guardians
- Match Type: Preseason (Spring Training)
- Guardians Record (Spring): 1–1
- Angels Record (Spring): 1–1
Game Overview
The Guardians set the tone early, scoring 2 runs in the first inning and erupting for 4 in the third and 3 in the fifth, building a commanding 9-1 lead. A 5-run eighth inning sealed the blowout, as Cleveland’s bats racked up 13 hits, including three home runs. The Angels managed only 6 hits and struggled defensively, committing one error that contributed to Cleveland’s scoring. The game, part of MLB Spring Training, saw both teams deploy a mix of regulars and prospects, with Cleveland’s depth shining through.
Team Stats Comparison
- Final Score: Cleveland Guardians 14, Los Angeles Angels 2
- Hits: Guardians 13, Angels 6
- Errors: Guardians 0, Angels 1
- Home Runs: Guardians 3 (Kwan, Kayfus, Lampe), Angels 0
- Runners Left on Base (LOB): Guardians 7, Angels 11
- Runs/Hits/Errors by Inning:
- Angels: 1-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-1 | 2 R, 6 H, 1 E
- Guardians: 2-0-4-0-3-0-0-5-X | 14 R, 13 H, 0 E
Pitching Stats
- Angels Pitching:
- Reid Detmers (L, 0-1): 2.0 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 1 K, 0 BB, 9.00 ERA
- Chase Silseth: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 4 R (3 ER), 1 K, 2 BB, 20.25 ERA
- Jake Southard: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 K, 0 BB, 0.00 ERA
- Connor Brogdon: 0.2 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 1 K, 1 BB, 40.50 ERA
- Liam Murphy: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 K, 0 BB, 0.00 ERA
- Daniel Hudson: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 3 K, 1 BB, 0.00 ERA
- Andrew Gordon: 0.1 IP, 2 H, 5 ER, 0 K, 3 BB, 135.00 ERA
- Mason Erla: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 K, 2 BB, 0.00 ERA
- Team Total: 8.0 IP, 13 H, 14 R (13 ER), 6 K, 9 BB, 3 HR
- Guardians Pitching:
- Ben Lively (W, 1-0): 2.0 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 1 K, 1 BB, 4.50 ERA
- Kyle Allard (H, 1): 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 4 K, 0 BB, 0.00 ERA
- Doug Nikhazy: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 2 K, 0 BB, 0.00 ERA
- Jake Leftwich: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 2 K, 0 BB, 0.00 ERA
- Andrew Misiaszek: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 2 K, 0 BB, 0.00 ERA
- Mason Ellerts: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 1 ER, 1 K, 0 BB, 13.50 ERA
- Zach Morehouse: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 K, 0 BB, 0.00 ERA
- Team Total: 9.0 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 12 K, 9 BB, 0 HR
Standout Performances
Cleveland Guardians
The Guardians’ offense was relentless, with 13 players contributing hits or RBIs, and their pitching staff limited the Angels to just 2 runs despite issuing 9 walks.
- Steven Kwan (LF): Went 2-for-3 with a home run (1st, 3rd inning, 399 ft), 2 runs, 1 RBI, and a .667 AVG. His solo homer off Chase Silseth in the third sparked Cleveland’s big inning.
- CJ Kayfus (1B): Delivered a 1-for-1 performance with a home run (1st, 5th inning, 403 ft), 2 runs, 1 RBI, and 2 walks, finishing with a 1.000 AVG and a standout +4 plus-minus.
- Cooper Ingle (C): Led with 2 RBIs, going 2-for-2 with a single, 1 run, and 1 walk, posting a 1.000 AVG. His RBI knock in the fifth was a key moment.
- Tyler Freeman (CF): Hit a double (1st inning), scored 1 run, and drove in 1 RBI, going 1-for-2 with 1 walk (.500 AVG). His RBI double tied the game early.
- Bo Naylor (C): Went 1-for-3 with 1 RBI, 1 run, and a .333 AVG. His bloop single in the first gave Cleveland an early lead.
- Angel Genao (SS): Recorded a 1-for-2 performance with 1 RBI, 1 run, and 1 walk (1.000 AVG). His two-run single in the eighth capped Cleveland’s scoring.
- Will Brennan (RF): Scored 1 run, stole a base, and went 1-for-2 (.500 AVG). His outfield assist, throwing out Yadil Sánchez at third, was a defensive highlight.
- Ben Lively (P): Earned the win with 2.0 innings, allowing 1 ER on 5 hits, 1 strikeout, and 1 walk (4.50 ERA). He set the tone for Cleveland’s pitching dominance.
The Guardians’ bullpen, led by Allard (4 K in 2.0 IP) and Nikhazy (2 K in 2.0 IP), shut down the Angels after the first inning, allowing just 1 run in the ninth.
Los Angeles Angels
The Angels struggled offensively and on the mound, with only a few players making an impact in a game dominated by Cleveland.
- Scott Kingery (2B): Went 1-for-3 with a double (1st inning), 1 run, and a .333 AVG. His double set up the Angels’ lone first-inning run.
- Mickey Moniak (CF): Drove in 1 RBI with a single in the first, going 1-for-3 (.200 AVG). His hit scored Kingery but was one of few offensive highlights.
- Niko Rada (CF): Recorded 1 RBI via a walk in the ninth, going 0-for-0 with 2 walks (.667 AVG). His bases-loaded walk scored the Angels’ second run.
- Yadil Sánchez (3B): Went 1-for-2 with a single (.400 AVG), but was thrown out at third by Brennan.
- Gustavo Campero (RF): Hit 1-for-2 with a single (.500 AVG), showing promise but failing to drive in runs.
- Christian Moore (2B): Went 1-for-1 with a single (.500 AVG), contributing to the Angels’ late push in the ninth.
- Reid Detmers (P): Took the loss, pitching 2.0 innings, allowing 2 ER on 3 hits, 1 strikeout, and no walks (9.00 ERA). His early struggles set the tone for the Angels’ pitching woes.
The Angels’ pitching staff faltered, particularly in the third (4 runs), fifth (3 runs), and eighth (5 runs) innings, with Connor Brogdon (3 ER, 2 HR) and Andrew Gordon (5 ER) struggling significantly.
Key Moments
- Top 1st: Mickey Moniak’s RBI single scored Scott Kingery, giving the Angels an early 1-0 lead.
- Bottom 1st: Tyler Freeman’s RBI double and Bo Naylor’s bloop single put the Guardians ahead 2-1.
- Bottom 3rd: Steven Kwan’s solo home run (399 ft) off Chase Silseth sparked a 4-run inning. A wild pitch and a fielding error by Matt Lugo allowed two more runs, with Daniel Schneemann’s groundout making it 6-1.
- Bottom 5th: Back-to-back solo home runs by Jake Lampe (443 ft) and CJ Kayfus (403 ft) off Connor Brogdon, followed by Cooper Ingle’s RBI single, extended Cleveland’s lead to 9-1.
- Bottom 8th: The Guardians erupted for 5 runs, with Angel Genao’s two-run single and walks by JJ Cozart, JJ Bazzana, and Cooper Ingle fueling the rally off Andrew Gordon and Mason Erla.
- Top 9th: Niko Rada’s bases-loaded walk scored Christian Fontenelle, but the Angels couldn’t close the gap, ending at 14-2.
Analysis
The Guardians’ offensive explosion was driven by their ability to capitalize on Angels’ pitching mistakes, with three home runs and 7-for-16 hitting with runners in scoring position (RISP). Their bullpen, particularly Allard and Nikhazy, stifled the Angels’ offense after the first inning, striking out 12 batters. Cleveland’s depth, with prospects like Kayfus, Genao, and Ingle stepping up, signals a strong start to their Spring Training campaign.
The Angels, conversely, struggled with pitching depth and offensive consistency. Detmers and Silseth allowed early damage, while Brogdon and Gordon imploded in later innings. The Angels’ 1-for-8 RISP performance and 11 runners left on base highlighted their inability to sustain rallies. A fielding error by Matt Lugo in the third inning further compounded their defensive woes. Recent posts on X noted the Angels’ ongoing struggles, with their 55-60 regular-season record reflecting broader challenges.
Conclusion
The Cleveland Guardians’ 14-2 rout of the Los Angeles Angels on February 23, 2025, showcased their offensive and pitching depth in Spring Training. Steven Kwan, CJ Kayfus, and Cooper Ingle led a relentless attack, while Ben Lively and the bullpen silenced the Angels’ bats. For the Angels, Mickey Moniak and Scott Kingery provided brief sparks, but pitching breakdowns and missed opportunities defined their loss. As Spring Training progresses, the Guardians (1-1) look to build on this performance, while the Angels (1-1) aim to address their pitching and offensive struggles.
