MacKenzie Gore still vexes Phillies, even without March shadows

A year and two days ago, the Phillies had no answers for the then-Nationals’ MacKenzie Gore.

Their only comeback, besides their comeback win over Washington that day, was that they couldn’t see.

Shadows.

A common downside of a 4:05 start time, and a precursor to Gore’s career-high 13-strikeout afternoon.

On Sunday, the Phillies couldn’t lean on the same excuse as the now-Rangers’ Gore under the cloudless sky, as Philadelphia dropped the series finale to Texas 8-3.

The tall, lanky left-hander delivered a performance to remember, one that carried echoes of last March. The Phillies didn’t record a hit through the first five innings.

Gore attacked all afternoon against a righty-heavy Phillies lineup. He filled up the strike zone with his mid-90s heater, then played off it with a big-bending curveball.

And he did it in a spot where he hadn’t always been comfortable. Gore had struggled at Citizens Bank Park entering the day, carrying a 7.22 ERA in six career outings against the Phillies.

The Phillies did show some life against the North Carolina native.

In the sixth, they finally put Gore on the ropes. Justin Crawford dribbled an infield single, Trea Turner worked a walk, and Kyle Schwarber punched a single to load the bases.

Bryce Harper struck out, but then Gore hit Alec Bohm to force in a run and put the Phillies on the board. Gore’s day was done moments later. Adolis García brought home another run with a sacrifice fly, with that run charged to Gore.

Gore’s final line: 5 1/3 innings, two hits, two earned runs, three walks and seven strikeouts.

Gore was one of the many notable arms on the move this offseason, much like fellow lefty and former NL East opponent Jesús Luzardo last year, who drew the start opposite him.

Sixes flew for Luzardo in the wrong direction. He went six innings and allowed six runs on six hits, all earned.

Texas’ newcomers did most of the damage. Brandon Nimmo drilled a left-on-left two-run homer in the third, and former Phillie Andrew McCutchen greeted the crowd with yet another extra-base hit this series — this time a three-run shot that hooked right down the left-field line.

McCutchen even gestured an apology to the Philadelphia faithful, who rained him with boos, on his way back to the dugout.

Luzardo, who signed a five-year, $135 million extension just under three weeks ago, still managed to gut through the outing. He threw 99 pitches and struck out seven.

But two- and three-run homers will beat you. And without much run support for the second day in a row, it’s a tough way to win.

The Phillies will wrap up their six-game homestand when they welcome Washington to town on Monday. Taijuan Walker, Andrew Painter — who will make his Major League debut — and Cristopher Sánchez are lined up over the next three days.