M’s reliever Storen knows what it’s like to be in Diaz’s shoes
Published 5:30 pm Saturday, August 20, 2016
By Bob Dutton
The News Tribune
SEATTLE — Drew Storen watched Seattle Mariners rookie closer Edwin Diaz wobble through the ninth inning Friday night through the eyes of experience. Diaz gave up three walks and two runs before securing a 7-6 victory over Milwaukee.
“I know that’s a frustrating outing, probably,” said Storen, who rang up 90 saves at Washington from 2011-15. “But the way you have to look at it is it’s all about getting the save. Especially against a team that grinds you.
“You just say, at the end, ‘Hey, I got the save. I got it done.’ You just hold onto that.”
For Storen, those moments now come earlier in games.
Since arriving from Toronto in a July 26 trade for Joaquin Benoit, another veteran reliever, Storen has emerged as manager Scott Servais’ first choice for bailing out a struggling starter in a close game.
“He’s been on a pretty good roll,” Servais said. “His pitch has always been his slider, but I think his velo on the fastball has probably ticked up a little bit. His history as a closer, he’s adjusting to what we’re asking him to do.”
Typically that means entering the game with runners on base. On Wednesday, Storen replaced Cody Martin with one out and the bases loaded in the sixth inning with the Mariners clinging to a 4-2 lead against the Angels in Anaheim.
Storen struck out Mike Trout and retired Albert Pujols on a routine fly to center, and the Mariners held on for a 4-3 victory. Storen bailed out Wade LeBlanc on Friday by getting the final two outs in the sixth after the Brewers scored twice.
“I enjoy those situations because you’re just rolling off adrenaline,” said Storen, who has allowed one run in nine innings over his last nine outings. “I’ve been in those situations before — usually because of my fault. It’s a good spot.
“That’s a really important part of the game, and it allows me to be the bridge to the flames we have coming out at the back. Those guys are just coming out and attacking people.”
Like Diaz with his triple-digit fastball and killer slider. Usually that’s more than enough. Sometimes, though, it’s just barely enough. Like Friday, when Diaz closed out the victory by striking out Hernan Perez with runners at first and third.
“You look at Eric Gagne’s streak of 84 (saves) in a row,” Storen said. “That’s one of the most impressive streaks in the game because there are so many things that can happen before you get that last out. It’s so hard to do.
“(Diaz) stepped up and made the right pitch when he needed to. You take that home with you.”
Take it from someone who knows.
After watching Diaz throw 34 stressful pitches Friday, Servais said he hopes to avoid using his rookie closer for a couple of days.
“I’ve said it all along that we’ve got to be smart in how we use him,” Servais said, “but it’s really hard. We play so many close games. It seems like every game is life or death. You’ve got to have it. And you always feel good about him out there.
“We need to stay away from him tonight and maybe for a couple of days. Kind of regroup. He certainly lost the feel (Friday) night. Mechanically, he wasn’t right. He was rushing it. But that’s part of it.
“You’ve got to learn how to get through it and, fortunately, he did.”
Servais hedged when asked whether he had a preferred backup closer in a bullpen that has three former closers: Steve Cishek has 120 career saves, while Tom Wilhelmsen has 68 and Storen has 98.
Cishek had 25 saves in 31 chances earlier this year before an injury forced him to the disabled list in early August and created an opportunity for Diaz.
“It’s match-ups,” Servais said. “Wilhelmsen or Cishek. You could run (Arquimedes) Caminero in there. Storen has done it. It’s how they fit.
“Some guys, I’d feel more comfortable putting them in with traffic situations. Some guys, we feel more comfortable in giving them a clean inning.”
