The Guardians’ bats exploded in Arizona — and by the end of the night, the scoreboard looked more like a statement than a spring training result.
If this performance is a preview, Cleveland’s offense might be waking up at exactly the right time.
The Cleveland Guardians delivered one of their most explosive performances of spring training Thursday night, overwhelming the Chicago White Sox 12–3 in a high-scoring Cactus League matchup at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Arizona.
While the final score told part of the story, the real message came from how it unfolded: dominant pitching early, relentless offense throughout, and a late-game surge that left the White Sox scrambling.
At the center of Cleveland’s strong start was right-hander Tanner Bibee, who turned in his sharpest outing of the spring.
Bibee became the first Guardians pitcher this spring to reach four innings, delivering four scoreless frames while allowing just one hit and striking out four batters on 46 pitches. Calm, efficient, and in control, the young starter looked increasingly ready for the regular season.
But Bibee hardly needed much run support.
The Guardians’ offense came out blazing from the very first inning.
Facing White Sox right-hander Sean Burke, Cleveland immediately seized control with three consecutive doubles from Angel Martinez, Brayan Rocchio, and George Valera, instantly building a 2–0 lead before Chicago could settle in.
Burke briefly regained his footing with two quick outs, but Cleveland refused to slow down.
Moments later, CJ Kayfus crushed his first home run of the spring, sending a powerful shot over the wall and pushing the Guardians’ advantage to 4–0 before the White Sox even had a chance to respond.
The game remained steady for several innings — until the Guardians unleashed a late-inning avalanche.
In the seventh inning, Cleveland erupted for seven runs, delivering their biggest offensive explosion of the spring and effectively putting the game out of reach.
The rally featured two dramatic pinch-hit home runs.
First, Milan Tolentino, batting for Rocchio, blasted a three-run homer — his second long ball of the spring. Tolentino has already shown impressive power this year after hitting 21 home runs last season at Triple-A Columbus.
Then came another thunderous swing.
Carter Kieboom, pinch-hitting for Kayfus, launched a two-run homer, adding to the onslaught and electrifying the Guardians’ dugout.
By the end of the inning, Cleveland had sent 10 batters to the plate, collecting six hits and completely overwhelming Chicago’s pitching staff.
The Guardians’ offensive night was nothing short of relentless.
Cleveland finished with 15 hits, including nine extra-base hits — a combination that kept pressure on the White Sox all evening.
The extra-base breakdown included:
- Five doubles
- One triple
- Three home runs
Several players stood out at the plate.
Angel Martinez continued his scorching spring, going 2-for-3 with two doubles, boosting his batting average to an impressive .438 (7-for-16).
Veteran catcher Austin Hedges and Kody Huff each added two hits, helping sustain Cleveland’s offensive rhythm throughout the game.
Meanwhile, top prospect Jaison Chourio also made noise late in the contest, ripping a two-out triple in the eighth inning. Chourio is now hitting .400 this spring (6-for-15), adding to the excitement surrounding his development.
On the pitching side, the Guardians also welcomed an important return.
Closer Cade Smith made his first appearance of the spring, delivering a clean inning by retiring the White Sox in order in the fifth. The team had previously held Smith back because of his heavy workload in 2024 and 2025, along with a lingering neck issue.
Chicago finally broke through in the seventh inning when Dru Baker tripled and scored on a throwing error from Tolentino at shortstop. The White Sox added two more runs in the ninth inning against Kolby Allard, who is currently being stretched out as a starting option.
Despite the late runs, Cleveland’s dominant performance had already sealed the outcome.
With the win, the Guardians improved to 6–8 in Cactus League play, continuing to build momentum as the regular season approaches.
Next up, Cleveland will send right-hander Gavin Williams (1–0, 4.14 ERA) to the mound against the Los Angeles Angels, who will counter with left-hander Reid Detmers (0–1, 9.54 ERA).
If Thursday’s offensive explosion is any indication, the Guardians lineup might just be heating up.
And the rest of the league may soon take notice.
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