Rare Command Issues Doom Nathan

Joe Nathan has been one of the best closers in the history of baseball, and after a rough first week as a Texas Ranger, he's been incredible this season, earning a berth on the AL all-star team.

One reason for his dominance has been his remarkable control and lack of walks, but on Tuesday night against the Boston Red Sox, Nathan fell to 1-3 after two two-out walks doomed Nathan after two easy outs to start the ninth in a 1-1 game.

Nathan entered Tuesday's game with just five walks all season, increasing his total to seven to go with 47 strikeouts, but the fact they came with two outs and resulted in a loss added a little extra sting.

"It's baseball," Nathan told reporters. "You’re not going to be perfect every time you go out. I think most people think that you should be if you’ve only walked five guys, that means you shouldn’t walk guys, but this is baseball and anything can happen. I lost command for one hitter. Unfortunately, it was one of those nights.”

As bad as the outing might have been by Nathan's standards — or anyone's standards, for that matter — the 11-year veteran is ready to bounce back.

"Tomorrow's another day," he said. "I’ve been doing this long enough that bouncing back is not the thing, it’s about playing again tomorrow. Whatever happens in the past is in the past, good or bad. It seems like I’ve said this 8 zillion times, but good or bad, it’s in the past and we’ve got to play again tomorrow.”

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