WASHINGTON -- If all goes smoothly, a starting pitcher can make 30-plus appearances in a season. So when a young southpaw spins an electric outing with 10 strikeouts in one game, then exits after allowing four runs in four-plus innings five days later, he doesn’t become complacent from the victory, nor does he get discouraged by the loss.

“It was a new start,” 24-year-old MacKenzie Gore said. “Good or bad, we started over the next day.”

Gore allowed a season high in runs on seven hits -- including a two-run home run to Dansby Swanson -- and two walks while striking out four in the Nationals’ 5-1 series-opening defeat to the Cubs on Monday night at Nationals Park. He threw 102 pitches (66 for strikes) before exiting in the fifth inning after surrendering Swanson's homer and a walk to Cody Bellinger.

“A lot of foul balls,” said Gore. “I didn’t think the offspeed was as good tonight. I think that had something to do with it. I just left some balls over the middle of the plate.”

Gore’s start against Chicago was a contrast to Wednesday’s performance of 10 strikeouts, one run, four hits and two walks on 101 pitches (66 strikes) in six innings in a 4-1 win over the Mets at Citi Field.

“I think a lot of his misses today … were more over the plate. As far as maybe playing against New York, he threw some very good pitches down and away for strikes, in for strikes,” said manager Dave Martinez. “... Other than his pitch count being high, he was battling; he had them in swing mode. They just fouled a lot of balls off.”

Gore entered the game with a 3.00 ERA. He had allowed two runs or fewer in four of his first five starts, and he had recorded six strikeouts or more in each.

"He's a good pitcher,” said Swanson. “He's young. He's got good stuff, and for us as a group to put the at-bats we did on him tonight was definitely impressive. Getting his pitch count up early and being able to get in their 'pen in the [fifth] inning, especially on the first day of a series, is obviously a win for us."

The Nationals made three calls to the bullpen after their relievers were taxed during three games in two days against the Pirates, including a doubleheader on Saturday. Multirole right-hander Cory Abbott -- who was called up from Triple-A Rochester on Monday afternoon -- pitched the final two innings, leaving Wednesday’s starter in question.

“At that point in time where I was, it was really more of trying to get as many outs as I could,” Gore said. “I left a pitch over the middle of the plate to Dansby, and he hit a homer. Really, it’s just one pitch at a time, and however long I go, I go. Just not as efficient tonight.”

The Nationals acquired Gore, the third overall pick in the 2017 Draft by the Padres, in the Juan Soto trade last Aug. 2 to be a centerpiece of their starting rotation for years to come. Gore will analyze start No. 6 with Washington, take note of what he can learn from it and then begin preparing for his next outing. Then he will take the mound aiming for consistency, with the confidence of his teammates behind him.

“You don’t expect him to get hit, but I think he made some good pitches,” said first baseman Dominic Smith. “You can’t take away anything from that ballclub; they played well tonight. But I still will take MacKenzie 10 out of 10 times.”