Rangers Defeat Phillies 8-3 Behind Gore’s Strong First Start

MacKenzie Gore delivered an impressive debut for the Texas Rangers, carrying a no-hitter into the sixth inning during an 8-3 victory over Philadelphia. Brandon Nimmo and Andrew McCutchen each launched their first home runs as Rangers, helping new manager Skip Schumaker earn his first series win.

PHILADELPHIA — Andrew McCutchen channeled his inner Michael Jordan with a shoulder shrug and playfully apologized to a Phillies supporter after crossing home plate following his debut home run as a Texas Ranger.

Brandon Nimmo also connected for his inaugural long ball with Texas — a blast that only intensified the hostile reception from Philadelphia fans who relentlessly jeered the former New York Mets standout throughout the entire three-game series.

MacKenzie Gore continued his dominance over Philadelphia from his previous appearance. During his debut with Washington last season, he recorded 13 strikeouts against the Phillies. Gore maintained that excellence in his Rangers debut, carrying a no-hit bid into the sixth inning before working out of a bases-loaded situation by striking out two-time National League MVP Bryce Harper in Sunday’s 8-3 victory.

Inaugural home runs and Gore’s stellar first outing helped Texas capture two games out of three against the defending NL East champions.

For Rangers supporters tracking milestones, here’s another notable first — the inaugural series victory under new Texas skipper Skip Schumaker.

“It’s just confirmation of what we think our offense is,” Schumaker said.

Nimmo ignited the Texas attack by taking Philadelphia starter Jesús Luzardo (0-1) deep for a two-run blast in the second inning.

Nimmo has launched 11 home runs at Citizens Bank Park, more than any other road venue. He owns 16 career homers against Philadelphia, and their supporters haven’t forgotten his crucial go-ahead hit in Game 1 of the 2024 National League Division Series that propelled the Mets to victory and eventual series triumph.

Philadelphia fans unleashed a chorus of boos when Nimmo was announced on opening day, maintaining their hostility throughout all three contests.

“I hear the boos when I go up there,” Nimmo said with a smile. “It’s part of baseball. Part of baseball in the Northeast. It’s good to know they still remember me. Even though they don’t like me, I appreciate their passion for their team and the game. It’s been a great atmosphere to play here.”

Philadelphia supporters couldn’t generate the same level of animosity toward McCutchen, widely regarded as one of baseball’s most respected players who joined the Rangers during spring training after a potential Pittsburgh reunion fell through.

McCutchen, who played one season in Philadelphia and maintains a friendship with the heckling fan, delivered a three-run homer in the fourth inning for a 5-0 advantage. McCutchen also contributed an RBI single in the 10th inning during Saturday’s 5-3 Rangers victory.

McCutchen revealed he spent time with his Philadelphia sports fan friend who pleaded with him, “Stop hurting us.”

“I was like, no, dude, I can’t do that, I’m sorry,” McCutchen said with a laugh. “When I hit the homer, he was looking right at me. I was like, dude, I’m not sorry. It’s a good exchange between me and him, but he’s one of my guys.”

Gore is anticipated to be a cornerstone of Texas’ rotation following his acquisition for five prospects.

He provides the 2023 World Series champions with a starter capable of strengthening their rotation alongside Jacob deGrom — a two-time NL Cy Young Award winner who earned American League Comeback Player of the Year honors in 2025 — and Nathan Eovaldi, who battled a rotator cuff strain and underwent sports hernia surgery after posting a 1.73 ERA across 22 starts last season.

Gore recorded seven strikeouts and completed five hitless frames before his bid for Texas’ first no-hitter since Kenny Rogers’ perfect game in 1994 ended with a leadoff infield single by Justin Crawford in the sixth.

The southpaw struck out Harper with runners on all three bases in the sixth and departed after hitting Alec Bohm with a pitch to make the score 6-1.

“That’s a situation where we got ahead and we kind of wanted to put him away,” Gore said.

The 27-year-old Gore carries a 26-41 record with a 4.19 ERA across four major league campaigns, spending the last three with Washington. He earned NL All-Star recognition last season but struggled in the second half, finishing 5-15 with a 4.17 ERA and a career-high 185 strikeouts in 30 appearances, all starts.

Gore has compiled a 3.06 ERA (16 earned runs across 47 innings) with 57 strikeouts over his last eight starts against Philadelphia since early 2024.

“I don’t necessarily know if anybody is a great matchup against that lineup,” he said. “I think I just really understand what they’re capable of doing. I know I kind of have to be at my best to have success against them.”

Harper drew boos following his strikeout and managed just a .091 average with one RBI, one run and two walks during the opening series.

“Not the start we wanted to have (this) weekend,” Harper said, “but we’ll get there.”

Nobody in the home dugout wants to hear jeers just three games into the season. But those sounds represented a successful series for the Rangers.

“It’s totally OK they don’t like me,” Nimmo said.