Nathan Gets Back On Track, Earns 20th Save

On Tuesday night, Joe Nathan had an uncharacteristically rocky outing, walking two and surrendering a hit and the game-winning run in the Red Sox half of the ninth, an 29-pitch effort for which the veteran closer was pinned with his third loss of the season. Which would make his performance on Wednesday a nice bounce-back job.

Nathan needed just 14 pitches to dispatch of the Red Sox in a perfect ninth and earn his 20th save on the year on Wednesday night. Like the savvy, veteran closer that he is, Nathan credited having a short memory for his ability to so seamlessly get back on track after Tuesday’s outing.

“I try to just live in the present," Nathan said after the Rangers’ 5-3 victory, per ESPN Dallas. "Last night was done. You try to build off it and learn from it."

The difference between Tuesday and Wednesday, Nathan believes, was simple enough: On Wednesday, Nathan told reporters after the win, his command was just a little better than it was the night before.

"It wasn’t a big adjustment," he said. "Last night I wasn’t missing much. They were just real patient. I’ve seen hitters swing at a lot of the pitches I threw yesterday. They’ve been seeing the ball pretty well and playing good baseball. So I just tried to come in tonight and really command some pitches, maybe give them a different look.”