Storen coughs up lead in ninth in spring debut (Nats, Fish end in tie)

By Dan Kolko

Nationals

February 24, 2013, 11:26am

Comments

VIERA, Fla. - Results mean absolutely nothing on Feb. 24. Let's all make sure we understand that before I type this next sentence. Drew Storen allowed a run in the top of the ninth inning in his first appearance this spring, turning a 2-1 lead into a 2-2 tie. Storen, seeing his first game action since his blown save in Game 5 of the National League Division Series, gave up two hard-hit singles to start the ninth, putting runners on the corners with none out. He then got a soft grounder to first off the bat of No. 74, who I later learned to be catcher Jake Jefferies, which brought home the game-tying run. Storen got out of the inning without any further damage, and the Nationals went down in order in the bottom of the ninth. The managers have the choice to either end the game in a tie after nine innings or go one more frame. And it looks like we'll be going to the 10th. Lovely. Update: And the Nationals' home opener ends in a 2-2 tie. More to come.