OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — MacKenzie Gore tied a career high with 11 strikeouts, CJ Abrams hit an RBI triple and the Washington Nationals beat the Oakland Athletics 3-1 on Saturday.
Gore (2-0) tossed five scoreless innings, throwing 90 pitches and striking out the last five batters he faced. He struck out the side in the fifth before giving way to the bullpen. Nationals pitchers combined for 18 strikeouts. Kyle Finnegan recorded his fifth save of the season.
“It’s beautiful,” manager Davey Martinez said of Gore’s performance. “He attacked the strike zone, he goes out there and he competes. Hopefully now, we can see that consistency.”
Martinez said he was not tempted to leave Gore in the game, with a pitch count set at 90. Gore said he understood, crediting the bullpen for closing out the win.
“I was missing bats,” Gore said. “I knew we were locating. (Catcher Riley Adams) was really good today. We had a good game plan. I was able to execute it good enough where we got into a rhythm.”
Why US Catholics are planning pilgrimages in communities across the nation
1 dead in small plane crash in northwest Indiana, police say
Trump: Court finding first Americans to sit in judgment of former president
Christopher Luxon claims $52k accommodation payment to live in own apartment
Ricky Stenhouse punching Kyle Busch could lead to suspension
Russian authorities announced mass evacuation for flood
Firearms Prohibition Orders changes just 'window dressing'
Louisiana lawmakers reject minimum wage raise and protections for LGBTQ+ people in the workplace
Russian theater director and playwright go on trial over a play authorities say justifies terrorism
Guilty plea by leader of polygamous sect near the Arizona
Kevin Pillar gets 1,000th career hit in Angels' win at Texas
Russian military trainers arrive in Niger as relations deteriorate with the US