WASHINGTON — MacKenzie Gore kept waiting for this day to arrive. So, too, did the Washington Nationals and their fans.
The young pitcher joined the organization as a key part of the trade that sent MLB All-Star slugger Juan Soto to the San Diego Padres last August, but Gore was injured at the time and didn’t pitch in the majors after July. The 24-year-old left-hander’s long-awaited debut for his new club showed why Washington wanted him.
Gore struck out six batters and limited the big-swinging Atlanta Braves to one run and three hits in 5 1/3 innings Sunday, helping Washington win 4-1 and avoid being swept in a three-game series between National League East teams to start the season. Atlanta, the division’s five-time reigning champion, had outscored the Nationals 14-3 in the first two games.
“It’s been a long time. … I’ve been looking forward to it,” said Gore, who said his parents, sister, brother-in-law and other relatives, along with his high school coach, were at Nationals Park. “I’ve been here for a little bit, and it was fun to finally pitch.”
When manager Dave Martinez took him out, many in the announced crowd of 21,440 saluted Gore with a standing ovation.