Gore Strikes Out 13 but Bullpen Falters on Opening Day

Nats Chat

Mark Zuckerman & Al Galdi

Baseball, Sports

4.9 • 574 Ratings

🗓️ 28 March 2025

⏱️ 44 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

The Nats bullpen let them down on their way to a season opening 7-3 loss in extra innings vs. the visiting Phillies. Mark & Al start with a major positive for Washington as MacKenzie Gore set a franchise Opening Day record with 13 strikeouts. Gore was fantastic as he didn't issue any walks and only gave up one hit. (10:30) Keibert Ruiz homered off of Zack Wheeler and threw out a runner trying to steal 2nd base. Davey Martinez mentioned pregame that Ruiz lost weight in the offseason and he was pleased with his Spring. (17:00) Jacob Young was caught stealing despite James Wood at the plate with a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the 6th inning. (21:15) Opening Day was not a good one for the Nationals bullpen as five relievers combined to allow seven runs in just four innings of work. Colin Poche really struggled in his first outing with the Nats as he gave up four Philadelphia runs in the top of the 10th to put the game out of reach. (27:45) Derek Law will begin the season the 15-Day IL due to right forearm inflammation. Mark explains what led to him not being ready to pitch on Opening Day. (32:00) The Nationals were dealt bad news this week as DJ Herz was added to the 60-Day IL and is getting a 2nd opinion on his sprained elbow ligament that could lead to Tommy John surgery. Al notes that this continues a troubling pattern of a pitcher getting a significant injury at some point in Spring Training.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Make Walters part of your game day routine, located just across the street from the ballpark.
0:06.0	Walters prides itself on having better than usual bar food and is loaded with TVs both inside and outside.
0:16.0	Gore into the wide of the pitch, swing, and a mess. He struck him out.
0:20.0	Back to the fastball at 96 miles an hour
0:23.0	so that's how this season starts for mackenzie gore he strikes out tray turner our seventh year with
0:30.1	the fillies matching his seven years spent with the nationals prior now the pitch swing and a mess he
0:36.9	struck him out with a slider is one-to-one
0:39.8	on the way swung on hit on the ground toward the right side second baseman
0:43.7	Garcia's left scoops it up and the throw on the low in plenty of time for the out
0:47.9	and it's a one-two-three inning to start this season for left-hander McKenzie Gord
0:53.6	and the pitch is right in there called strike three.
0:57.4	Looks at a fastball, knee-high to the inside part of the plate at 96 miles an hour.
1:03.2	And that is strikeout number 10 for McKenzie Gore.
1:07.3	Gore.
1:08.0	Into the wide, here it comes.
1:09.4	Breaking ball.
1:10.2	Swang out of this. He struck him. Breaking ball. Swing and a miss.
1:11.3	He struck him out.
1:12.8	A new career high for McKenzie Gore.
1:15.8	He strikes out the side of the fifth inning.
1:18.3	He has fan 12 Philadelphia Phillies in the first five innings.
1:23.1	Now the windup, the one-two pitch.
	...

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