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PHILADELPHIA – The Phillies couldn’t touch MacKenzie Gore five weeks ago in their Opening Day encounter, the best start of the lefty’s career. Only one batter reached base against him that afternoon at Nationals Park. Thirteen of the 18 who stepped to the plate returned to the dugout muttering to themselves after striking out.
There’s a bit too much talent in that lineup, though, for lightning to strike twice. And from the outset of Tuesday night’s game, Philadelphia’s hitters made it clear this game against Gore would be different.
With a quick-strike homer from Kyle Schwarber in the first inning and another homer from No. 9 batter Johan Rohas in the third, Gore put the Nationals in a 3-0 hole and looked on the verge of falling apart.
But anyone who has been paying attention this month knows the most significant stride Gore has made isn’t his ability to dominate an opponent. It’s his ability to keep a downward-trending start from slipping away altogether.
So it was that Gore gutted his way through six innings Tuesday, allowing only five baserunners along the way. Schwarber and Rojas hit the two homers. Trea Turner produced three singles all by himself. And nobody else in the Phillies lineup did anything against Gore, who emerged with his fifth quality start in seven outings to begin the season.
