Bullpen finishes win over Phillies, looks back at importance of Stammen

The Nationals took down the Phillies 5-2 in their return to D.C. with the help of 2 1/3 scoreless innings from the bullpen. Matt Thornton, Aaron Barrett and Drew Storen came in to hold the Phillies without a run on just one hit for the final seven outs.

In the seventh, with the bases loaded and the Nationals ahead 5-2, Thornton was able to force the often dangerous Chase Utley to line out to center field to end the threat.

"It's a three-run lead and I'm trying to make sure that I don't let him he do any damage," Thornton said. "If he does get a base hit, it's just a base hit. Just focus on making quality pitches in the at-bat."

Thornton said he was able to keep calm because he has had so much experience in his career being called into high-leverage situations with the game on the line.

"I've been doing it a while," Thornton said. "I've had those situations quite a few times in my career. It's something that is never easy, but you find a comfort in it and I focus on what I need to do in the at-bat against Chase and don't worry about those baserunners out there. It's actually easier when the bases are loaded because they can't run, so you're not worried about holding the runners there."

Right-hander Barrett arrived in the eighth and got the Phillies in order, including a strikeout of Jeff Francouer.

Nationals manager Matt Williams said Barrett is getting good movement on his fastball and slider.

"Everybody's knows about his slider," Williams said. "It's a real good slider. But the ball is sinking good, too. His fastball is sinking and he's throwing it where he wants to. It's a big key for him. If he can do that, then he can get to the slider. He can get to the putaway pitch. It's been nothing but strikes with his heater, which is great."

Barrett said he didn't think about coming in as the setup guy in the eighth. He just wanted those three outs.

"I've been trying to do it all year," Barrett said. "Just going in and make pitches. Whether it's the eighth, whether it's the sixth, whether we are up five, down five, whatever the case may be. I know my job is to go in there and execute pitches and pass it on to the next guy. As long I am giving our team a chance to stay in the ball game, then I know that I am doing my job."

Storen came on in the ninth and gave up a single to Ryan Howard. After a strikeout of Darin Ruf, he forced pinch-hitter Ben Revere into a game-ending double play grounder to shortstop Ian Desmond. It was Storen's third save of the season.

It was a big game for the bullpen on a day they lost one of their mainstays in right-hander Craig Stammen. It was the kind of finish he would have loved, maintaining a three-run lead for the final seven outs.

Before the game, Williams revealed that Stammen will have to undergo surgery due to a torn flexor tendon in his pitching arm, likely ending his season.

Thornton said it was tough news to receive.

"Yeah, it's a huge blow," Thornton said. "Craig works his tail off, does so much for us out there, whether it's one batter, two innings, anything like that, his arm has always bounced back for him. Never had a problem day in day out of taking the ball. It's just an opportunity for someone else to step up and do the job. But it is still disappointing having a friend that's going to have to have surgery."

Barrett said the team will miss Stammen's versatility.

"That's why Craig was so great," Barrett said. "He could come in, get a shutdown inning (or) he'd go in, pitch three innings. He's so versatile. He's a leader. He's a bulldog. He'll never say no when taking the ball. It's definitely going to hurt a lot, not only miss him as a pitcher, but the way he was as a person. He was just a great guy to follow down there in the 'pen. Soak up a lot of knowledge from him.

"It's gonna hurt, that's for sure. But it creates an opportunity for some guys to step in and try to move into his role. Some big shoes to fill. It stinks. We hope that he has a good recovery and comes back stronger than ever. I know he will because has the mentality for it."

One pitcher who could take some of Stammen's innings as the long reliever has been preparing for that role since the beginning of spring training.

"I came into the bullpen thinking I'd be a long relief guy," Tanner Roark said. "Guys need to step up and fill that role and I think we have a lot of good guys on the team and guys that can fill that position and come in ready to pitch back to back days if they need to be."

But Roark said he will not be the only one who could go long in games for this team. He said one of the newcomers in the bullpen can also pitch for more than one inning each outing.

"Even (Rafael) Martin, who just came in, he did very well," Roark said. "He's a two-inning-plus guy so he can fill the role and I think we'll be fine. It sucks missing (Stammen) because he's a big leader out there in the bullpen. He'll be around though, giving us pep talks, so it's always good."