Storen hit a bit in second rehab game, but felt like he took a "step forward"

Nationals right-hander Drew Storen came in for the eighth inning Saturday and got hit a bit during the second game of his rehab assignment for high Single-A Potomac. Leading 3-1, Storen allowed two runs on two hits and a walk, with only one of the runs earned. He did finish out the inning. Storen faced six batters. Storen told reporters he was a little disappointed the outing did not go as well as Thursday, but that is not the most important reason for these rehab games. It is about making sure he gets back to the level he needs to be at to be effective in the majors. It is also about how his elbow feels after he pitches. "It is tough not to get caught up in results when guys are playing as hard as they are," Storen told reporters in postgame. "But at the same time, I have to get my work in. I got a lot of pitches in tonight. I felt great. I felt like I had a little more power than the other day. The results weren't there, but I feel like I took a step forward." Storen got stuck with a blown save, but then was credited with the victory after Kevin Keyes launched the go-ahead solo homer, his 10th of the season, in the bottom of the eighth, to give Potomac the 4-3 lead over Frederick. Storen said the game situation did not allow him to throw a wide variety of pitches, but he did get a chance to throw his fastball. "I probably didn't use as much as I would have liked. I didn't throw any changeups, but that just came with the situation," Storen said to reporters. "If I am ahead, I probably would have used (the changeup) more. They made me throw my fastball. The big thing for me is to get the sinker down." Storen also said that he was pretty amped up in his appearance, and these rehab games are also important for him to control his emotions as much as getting his throwing motion back to the top level. "That is a big thing I am going to run into when I get back," Storen said. "That is part of it, taking a deep breath and slowing things down. I had adrenaline going. I was getting a little quick. It is all a part of making those adjustments in my mechanics and I did that." If his arm feels good Sunday, Storen expects to be back in Woodbridge to pitch on Monday.