ARLINGTON, Texas — Joe Nathan has 266 career saves, but he's never had one like Tuesday night's.
One pitch. Two outs. Save No. 5 on the season for Nathan in the 2-0 victory over New York.
"I'm not positive," Nathan said. "I can't say for sure, but I don't think I've had a one pitch, take it to the house."
He's the first Texas pitcher to have a one-pitch save since Francisco Cordero in 2005 and the first ever for the Rangers to register a save on a ground ball double play on one pitch.
Nathan got Raul Ibanez to ground to second to start the double play after Nick Swisher singled off Yu Darvish with one out.
"You always shoot for it," Nathan said of the double play. "If they put the ball in play, you want it on the ground for sure. Are you thinking double play? No. I was just thinking 'be aggressive.' We went with a two-seamer and I was thinking away. Fortunately he put the ball on the ground right to Ian."
Texas manager Ron Washington, who has been involved in the game professionally as a player or coach since 1971, had never seen an ending to a game like that.
"When I gave Joe the ball last night, I told him not to worry about the guy on first base. Make a pitch and get us out of this," Washington said. "I went and sat down and all I did was hug Jack (bench coach Jackie Moore)."
