WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 07: Drew Storen #22 of the Washington Nationals looks in before pitching to a Philadelphia Phillies batter during the ninth inning of a 3-2 Nationals win at Nationals Park on September 7, 2014 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Jonathan Ernst/Getty Images) Drew Storen #22 of the Washington Nationals looks in before pitching to a Philadelphia Phillies batter during the ninth inning of a 3-2 Nationals win at Nationals Park on September 7, 2014 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Jonathan Ernst/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON (CBSDC) — With Rafael Soriano having essentially vacated the Nationals closer role with his shaky play as of late, Drew Storen assumed the familiar duty, securing Washington’s 3-2 win over Philadelphia Sunday evening, to earn his second save of the 2014 season.

Call it nostalgia, or the innate human quality of wanting to see other humans you like redeem themselves, but many Nationals fans were suddenly pulling for a dominant Storen ninth inning, hoping to see him at long last regain the closer role he relinquished with a nightmarish collapse in Game 5 of the 2012 NLDS.

Admittedly, I fell for this sentimental lapse in judgement. But after taking a look at Storen’s limited save opportunities this season, a less than colorful story bears out.

Bluntly, Drew Storen has two saves in five save opportunities this year.

In the interest of due diligence, let’s take a closer look at each of those appearances.

*April 9 – Nationals 10-7 regulation win over Marlins With a 6-5 Nats lead to start the seventh inning, Storen blew his save opportunity on the first batter, giving up a solo home run to Jarrod Saltalamacchia. He would finish the inning with a groundout and two strikeouts against the next three batters. The Nationals would fall behind 7-6 in the top of the eighth, then surge ahead 10-7 on a Jayson Werth grand slam in the bottom half, a lead they’d hold to victory in the ninth. *July 6 – Nationals 2-1 regulation win over Cubs Storen entered the game with a 1-0 lead to start the 7th inning, giving up the tying run on a single, sacrifice bunt, walk, single and sacrifice fly. He exited the game with two outs. The Nationals would reclaim the lead in the eighth, with Ryan Zimmerman driving Denard Span home on a decisive single to left field. *July 30 – Nationals 4-3 regulation win over Marlins Starting the ninth inning with a 4-1 lead, Storen gave up a solo homer to Giancarlo Stanton, then allowed the Marlins within one run on a single, wild pitch and a double. He would finish the inning to earn the save with a 4-3 victory. *August 7 – Nationals 5-3 extra-innings win over Mets The Nationals leading 3-1, Storen entered the game with two runners on base and one out in the seventh inning, in relief of Jordan Zimmermann, and gave up two runs on a wild pitch, a sacrifice fly and a single. He would not finish the inning, exiting with two outs. Washington would win 5-3 on a 13th-inning Bryce Harper walk-off homer, the game after all the speculation about him possibly being sent down to the minors. *September 7 – Nationals 3-2 regulation win over Phillies Drew Storen the game with a 3-2 lead on Sunday, pitching a lights-out one-two-three ninth inning, on a lineout and two strikeouts, to earn his second save of the season.

It’s important to note the Nationals have won all five games in which Storen entered the game in a save opportunity this season, blown save or not.

And with such a brilliant outing on Sunday, Storen at least appears to be pitching to his full potential, at least reminiscent of his electric 2011 season, in which he converted 43 of 48 save opportunities.

Best advice for Nationals fans? Proceed with cautious optimism.