Rehab appearance gets ugly quickly for reliever
The Nationals might need to give relief pitcher Drew Storen a little more time as he fights to return from April elbow surgery.
Making his first appearance at Double-A Harrisburg, Storen allowed four earned runs on three hits with a walk in just two-thirds of an inning at home against Richmond on Sunday. It was Storen’s fifth rehabilitation appearance this month — the first four were all at Single-A Potomac.
The team’s closer last season, Storen finished with a 6-3 record and a 2.75 ERA in his second year. His 43 saves were the second most by a reliever since the Nats moved to the District from Montreal in 2005. Chad Cordero finished with 47 in 2005. But Storen began feeling right elbow soreness during spring training and eventually had surgery to remove bone chips April 11.
“Obviously, the results aren’t where [they should be],” Storen said after his July 7 start in Potomac. “But my ability to make adjustments is going to be a big point.”
Washington manager Davey Johnson told reporters last weekend that Tyler Clippard would remain the primary closer even after Storen returns. Clippard, the primary setup man since his promotion to the Nats early in the 2009 season, has 14 saves in Storen’s absence and has allowed just one earned run since May 18.
“It’s tough to not get caught up in results especially when the guys are out here playing as hard as they are,” Storen said last week. “But at the same time I have to get my work in.”
On Sunday, Storen entered the Senators’ game in relief of starter Danny Rosenbaum. Harrisburg led 4-1 at the start of the seventh inning, but Storen allowed a hard-hit liner to second base for an out, a single to left and then a walk. Juan Perez then tripled to deep center to score two runs. He scored on a sacrifice fly, and then Richmond’s Johnny Monell homered to center. That was Storen’s last batter. The Flying Squirrels took a 5-4 lead and went on to win 8-7. Storen was charged with a blown save.
