Nats stunned after Drew Storen bombed for late grand slam

Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo made a controversial decision to acquire closer Jonathan Papelbon 10 days ago. The move, before the non-waiver trade deadline, knocked Drew Storen back to the eighth inning, despite his 29 saves. There was a need for backend of the bullpen help coupled with concerns with Storen's mental makeup in October based on postseason mishaps in 2012 and 2014.

Storen bristled at the demotion but accepted his new role, dominating in five no-hit shutout appearances. That streak ended abruptly tonight. With the Nats leading by three runs, Storen started the eighth.

Daniel Descalso, a ghost of Storen's past from the NLDS three years ago, drew a one-out walk. Storen then recorded the second out on Charlie Blackmon's fly ball to Michael A. Taylor in center. But Jose Reyes followed with a base knock to right and All-Star Nolan Arenado reached on an infield single, bringing slugger Carlos Gonzalez to the plate with the bases loaded.

Storen challenged with a fastball and Gonzalez mashed it deep to right, stunning the crowd of 33,622 at Nationals Park with a grand slam. The Rockies held on to win 5-4.

"Big moment," Gonzalez said after the third grand slam of his career. "I knew that was the key of the game, but I have to give all the credit to the guys in front of me, especially Daniel Descalso when he walked. He was able to see a lot of pitches from Storen. It was just a rough outing for him. The way they pitched me the whole night I was kind of prepared for that fastball middle in. I was just ready. I just threw my hands really quick to the ball and I found barrel."

A dejected Storen attempted to explain how it fell apart so quickly.

"A couple guys get on base for various reasons and then make one bad pitch, a fastball over the plate to a really good hitter," he said. "It's kind of the nature of the business. I'm trying to go in there and instead of just staying in off the plate it came back over and right into his barrel."

There was still plenty of drama left for the Nationals as Bryce Harper stepped to the plate with two outs in the bottom of the ninth and Yunel Escobar standing on first. But right-hander Tommy Kahnle whiffed Harper on a nasty split-finger in the dirt to end the game.

"When you're ahead 4-1 and CarGo comes up there and hits a heater over the plate, it happens," Harper said about Storen's rough outing. "I think Drew's been unbelievable all year for us. Nothing you can do about that. He gave CarGo his best and threw him his heater, and CarGo did what he did. It's part of the game. It happens that way sometimes."

Danny Espinosa sparked the Nationals early, scoring in the first after ripping a double down the left field line.

"It's a surprise," Espinosa said about Storen's difficult frame. "He's been lights out. But it's one game. I think that's literally one game that he has had that's been bad. Outside of that, Drew's been shut-down. When he comes in, it's typically 1-2-3. He's awesome. He's been unbelievable for us this year. It's one day. He'll move on. He'll be fine. He's a great competitor. He's a great pitcher for us and I'm not worried about him at all."

Manager Matt Williams' Nats have now dropped 13 of 21 since the All-Star break to fall 2 ½ games behind the Mets for first place in the NL East.

"We had the lead, had it set up for our bullpen the way we want it set up," Williams said. "We had the guy we wanted in there in the eighth inning, for sure. It didn't go our way tonight, but we gotta be ready for tomorrow."