MacKenzie Gore matched his personal best with 11 strikeouts, CJ Abrams contributed with an RBI triple, and the Washington Nationals secured a 3-1 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Saturday.
Gore, now with a 2-0 record, pitched five scoreless innings, throwing 90 pitches and striking out the last five batters he faced. The Nationals’ pitching staff totaled 18 strikeouts, with Kyle Finnegan notching his fifth save of the season.
Manager Davey Martinez praised Gore’s performance, highlighting his aggressiveness on the mound. Although tempted to keep Gore in the game, Martinez stuck to the 90-pitch limit. Gore acknowledged the bullpen’s contribution in sealing the win, emphasizing the effectiveness of their game plan and execution.
Abrams, consistent with his recent performance, drove in a run with a one-out RBI triple in the third inning, granting the Nationals a 1-0 lead. Luis García Jr. extended the lead to 2-0 in the sixth with an RBI double.
Jacob Young added an insurance run in the ninth with a two-out double, following Abraham Toro’s RBI double in the seventh, which narrowed the gap to 2-1.
The Nationals, concluding their week-long Bay Area trip, bounced back after dropping their previous game against the Giants and the series opener against the A’s.
The Athletics, despite the loss, saw a solid performance from starter Joe Boyle (1-2), who allowed only one run on five hits in five innings. Manager Mark Kotsay commended Boyle’s effectiveness, particularly against a lineup heavy with left-handed hitters.
With a season-low attendance of 3,330 fans on a chilly weekend afternoon, the Athletics experienced their second instance this year of drawing fewer than 4,000 fans at home. Despite the defeat, Oakland remains positioned to clinch its third consecutive series win with a victory on Sunday.
