Nolan Reimold

Detroit Tigers closer Joe Nathan walks off the field after blowing a save opportunity in the ninth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday in Toronto.

(AP Photo)

TORONTO -- Tigers closer Joe Nathan is staying put.

Tigers manager Brad Ausmus told reporters Saturday that Nathan will remain the team's closer for the foreseeable future.

Ausmus made the announcement during his postgame media session after Nathan blew his sixth save opportunity this season, which matched a career high for the 39-year-old.

"Joe is the closer," Ausmus said when asked why he elected to call upon Nathan in the ninth inning with the Tigers carrying a 2-1 lead against the Blue Jays.

The decision proved costly as Jose Reyes singled off Nathan to lead off the ninth, then stole second before advancing to third base on Melky Cabrera's fly ball.

Nathan intentionally walked Jose Bautista to set up the double play with one out for Navarro, who hit a game-tying grounder past a diving Miguel Cabrera at first.

Asked if Ausmus will continue to feel comfortable calling on Nathan in the ninth inning down the road, the first-year manager kept his answer brief.

"Yep," he said.

Nathan, who has made five appearances in the last 10 days, said fatigue may have played a small role in his ninth-inning implosion.

"The last week, I've thrown a lot of pitches," Nathan said. "I've only got in one game (in New York), but every game was close. It seemed like every game, I was up and getting hot because we had a chance in every game. No excuse, though."

Asked why he brought Nathan back out on Saturday after the six-time All-Star needed to throw 26 pitches Friday and narrowly escaped with his fifth straight save, Ausmus cited Nathan's success as the team's closer since the All-Star break.

"Recently, he's done very well for us closing games," Ausmus said.

Nathan struggled mightily in the first half of the season, blowing five saves en route to a 5.61 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP. However, he had converted five straight saves and nine of his last 10 prior to Saturday's meltdown.

"I felt good. I felt very confident going out there," Nathan said. "I can't look too deep into this. I just have to keep going out and stay positive, like I have."

Nathan entered his appearance Saturday with a 3.38 ERA in eight innings pitched since the All-Star break. But he got knocked around Saturday.

Nathan threw just 13 of his 28 pitches for strikes and gave up two hits and walked two batters. He was lifted in favor newly acquired reliever Joakim Soria after he issued a walk to Colby Rasmus to load the bases with one out.

"This isn't a job where you're going to be perfect all the time," said Nathan, who has converted 365 saves during his 14-year career. "I think, sometimes, people look at it like we better be perfect. And that's not always realistic."

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