Gore tames Phils' tough lefties: 'I knew I was capable'

WASHINGTON -- Southpaw MacKenzie Gore succinctly summed up his advantage on the mound.

“I should get left-handers out,” Gore said. “Left-handers don’t like hitting left-handed pitchers.”

Gore is improving on using that matchup to his benefit in his first full Major League season. In 16 appearances during his injury-abbreviated rookie campaign in 2022, he held lefty hitters to a .193 batting average, compared to a .263 average by righties. This season, though, lefties had hit .408 against Gore, compared to .201 by right-handers, in his first 11 starts entering Saturday.

“We’ve really been surprised, because his stuff is so electric,” said manager Dave Martinez. “But the biggest thing is working ahead, getting ahead, staying ahead.”

Gore faced a trio of left-handers in Saturday’s matchup against the Phillies. He held Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper and Brandon Marsh to a 2-for-9 afternoon in the Nats’ 4-2 loss at Nationals Park.

“A lot better,” Martinez said. “They’ve got some tough left-handed hitters there.”

After allowing a leadoff line-drive single to Schwarber, Gore struck out the left fielder in the third inning and induced a groundout from him in the fifth. Harper grounded into a double play in the first, struck out in the third and singled to right in the fifth. Marsh went 0-for-3 against Gore with a flyout and a pair of strikeouts.

“[Gore’s] slider was really good,” said Martinez. “For the most part, when he was down, he was good.”

Despite it being only his second big league season, Gore was familiar with the Phillies’ lineup. He faced them twice last year, holding both Harper and Schwarber hitless.

“It’s nice when you face guys [you’ve faced before], but they’ve also seen me,” said Gore. “They’re good hitters that can do some damage. You just try to keep the ball in the ballpark."

Martinez has encouraged Gore, like he does with young starters, to stay in the moment and not try to be perfect on every pitch. Martinez reminds the 24-year-old “these guys have got a bat for a reason, just make them swing,” and he tells Gore to work ahead in the count with strike one.

“I want to be the best version of myself,” Gore said. “So I like executing pitches and doing what I’m supposed to do: being aggressive and going at guys."

Gore tossed six innings and allowed three runs, including a home run, on nine hits and no walks. He struck out six and has thrown at least six frames in six of his 12 outings this season.

Following his efficient performance against the Phillies' lefties, Gore’s splits improved to a .220 batting average against right-handers and a .379 average against left-handers.

“I just knew it was a thing,” Gore said of the splits. “I knew I was capable of getting them out. I just had to figure out how I was going to do that."