Andrew McCutchen and Brandon Nimmo homered as the visiting Texas Rangers claimed the rubber game of their series with the Philadelphia Phillies with an 8-3 win Sunday.
MacKenzie Gore (1-0), who came over in an offseason trade with the Washington Nationals, pitched 5 1/3 innings in his first start with Texas. He allowed two runs, two hits and three walks while striking out seven.
Philadelphia starter Jesus Luzardo (0-1) was charged with six runs and six hits in six frames. He walked one and struck out seven, but he also didn’t receive much support, as the Phillies totaled four hits on the day.
The Rangers opened the scoring in the third inning when Sam Haggerty singled with one out before Nimmo homered on a first-pitch sweeper from Luzardo.
Texas inflicted more damage in the fourth inning. Corey Seager led off with a walk and advanced on a single by Jake Burger before McCutchen sent a 2-2 pitch just over the wall in left.
That was more than enough for Gore, who allowed only a pair of walks over the first five innings.
The lefty retired the Phillies in order in the fifth before McCutchen doubled and scored in the sixth to make it 6-0.
Justin Crawford broke up Gore’s no-hitter with an infield single to open the sixth. The next two hitters reached, as well, before Gore struck out Bryce Harper with the bases loaded.
Philadelphia did rally to score a pair of runs in the frame. Alec Bohm was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and Adolis Garcia followed with a sacrifice fly to make it 6-2.
However, Texas responded with two runs in the seventh. Zach Pop gave up an RBI double to Ezequiel Duran, who eventually came around to score on Seager’s sacrifice fly.
Bryson Stott’s RBI single in the eighth made the final score a bit more respectable.
