Drew Storen improves gradually as he earns first save of the season - MLB Update
The problem with command and control of the relief pitcher Drew Storen was a concern for the Washington Nationals’ manager Davey Johnson. During the game against the Miami Marlins, Storen gave away walks and threw way-ward pitches.
Low on confidence, Storen confronted the challenge of escaping the pressure cooker situations safely. In this regard, his first save of the season will give him a lot of confidence to come out improved in the upcoming games.
Storen has been trying to return in the season since the beginning, but his surgery made it difficult for him.
By the time he got rid of the injury and started playing rehab games, he was made to wait more than he wanted by the Nationals' manager Davey Johnson for playing in the season.
Despite the fact Storen holds immense significance to Washington’s bullpen, Johnson wanted to give him as much time as possible to let the reliever feel accustomed to the atmosphere of throwing under pressure. Johnson did not want to see him roughed up and
demoralised as a result of giving him premature exposure in the season.
In light of this, when Storen was finally brought in the Majors, Johnson expected him to become a saviour for the team late in the innings. However, initial few outings by him gave an impression that he has yet to go a long way in finding his rhythm.
In this connection, the first save of the season by Storen will be encouraging for the manager.
It is due to the same rhythm that he gained from the save, he has followed up with another splendid show on the mound against the Houston Astros on Monday.
Meanwhile, Johnson speaks about what Storen went through on his way to the save in the game.
“He was a little amped up, to say the least,” Johnson said. “The crowd really had him going. . . . He tried to snap off a snapdragon that nobody could hit. But it was good to see him back out there and get that out of the way. That kind of completes the
rehab.”
Storen cannot afford to look back now. He will be bracing for greater work load in the upcoming games.
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