(Danny Espinosa rounds the bases after his 2-run home run in the 7th Wednesday night. Screengrab of TV/MASN by Nationals Enquirer staff. Headline lovingly swiped from the Stinger/Steve Ray)

...but no Storen...

Nationals 4, Astros 3: Danny Espinosa's 2-run shot is the difference. A shocking quality start for Marquis, team-leading 11th win for Tyler Clippard, and save by Drew Storen Sean Burnett.

Jim Riggleman opts for Joel Peralta and Sean Burnett (with Miss Iowa himself Miguel Batista warming) in the 9th to nail down the save. Storen sat. Prior to Wednesday's game, Riggleman talked about pulling Storen Tuesday night with 2 outs in the 9th, and confidence (via Nationals Journal): 

"If a guy's confidence gets shaken that easy, then he might not be the right guy. I have no doubt that Drew is going to look at that as a situation where, 'I'm not the closer here yet. I aspire to be that. But it's results orientated, and I'm going through the process of becoming a closer here someday.' We really think that he will. But that doesn't have to be in the remainder of '10. It doesn't have to be in the year '11."
(Jim Riggleman, via Nationals Journal, 9/27/2010)

On Wednesday, Riggleman stuck to his guns, opting for an everybody-but-Storen approach. It worked -- but what did it really accomplish? Another vote of confidence by Riggleman for Drew Storen?

Update: via Adam Kilgore/Nationals Journal, Storen threw a bullpen session before the game, Riggleman didn't want to overwork him. And this, which kinda sorta sounds like a vote of confidence:

"If there's a big situation tomorrow, he'll be ready for that."
(Jim Riggleman, via Nationals Journal, 9/23/2010)

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Comments

[sharks_in_the_potomac]

Get over it you know-it-alls. Nats won the game, and better yet Storen pitched today and didn't break down in tears b/c of shattered confidence.