John McLaren‘s final decision in his three-game stint as interim manager of the Nationals was a gem. Instead of summoning closer Drew Storen from the bullpen at the start of the ninth inning with the Nats protecting a 2-1 lead at the White Sox on Sunday, he sent lefty Sean Burnett back out.
It was an unusual move, but with lefty Mark Teahen due up, it was for good reason. Two days earlier, Teahen hit a three-run home run off Storen, tagging him with his third blown save this year.
The move forced Chicago to counter with righty pinch hitter Brent Lillibridge, whom Storen fanned with a knee-buckling slider on his way to a no-stress 1-2-3 save.
Give credit to the 59-year-old McLaren, who went 2-1 in the White Sox series, keeping the Nats’ momentum intact for new manager Davey Johnson.
