Storen proving to be a good fit in new role

ANAHEIM — When Drew Storen entered the game for the Mariners in the fifth inning of Wednesday’s 4-3 victory over the Angels, it was the earliest he’s ever pitched in a Major League contest in his seven-year career. But with the bases-loaded, one out and Mike Trout and Albert Pujols coming up, it certainly wasn’t a low-pressure situation for the longtime Nationals closer.

Storen, who has 98 career saves and 402 MLB outings to his name, was a late-July addition to the Mariners when general manager Jerry Dipoto acquired him from the Blue Jays for Joaquin Benoit in a swap of struggling relievers.

Benoit has thrown eight scoreless innings for Toronto, while Storen has also responded well to his new role and environment. He struck out Trout and got Pujols on a long fly ball to center to preserve a 4-2 lead, then recorded two more outs in the sixth before being replaced.

After a rough debut when manager Scott Servais tried to extend him beyond an inning, Storen has allowed just four hits and one run over 8 1/3 innings in his last eight outings.

“Since Day 1 that I came here, it’s been a blast,” the 29-year-old said prior to Thursday’s series finale with the Angels. “The team is playing …

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