"After blowing two saves during a four-game weekend series against Tampa Bay, Joe Nathan realized he was hurting the Twins and agreed to step away from the closer's job for now.

"I feel like my consistency right now just isn't where I need it to be,'' he said. "Until I start getting that back -- and I know I will at some time -- I don't want to put this team at any risk and cost them ballgames right now.

"We're all scuffling right now. The games that we do have, I'd like to get those taken care of and finished up."

Nathan approached manager Ron Gardenhire and pitching coach Rick Anderson after Saturday's 4-3 loss in which he gave up a tying homer to Ben Zobrist and then walked two batters. It was the first time Nahtan had blown consecutive save opportunities since 2008.

The three agreed that Nathan should work in less stressful situations while Matt Capps takes over as closer. Jim Hoey was called up from Class AAA Rochester to take a setup role.

"Andy and I had been talking about it," Gardenhire said. "[Nathan] came in and Andy seized the moment and wanted to talk about it, too, so we all sat down and he had his feelings, then I told him what I thought also, and Andy did, too.

"He wants to win, and he also understands he's scuffling along trying to figure what he can and can't do. So it is a good thing that we get it straightened out and go from there."

Nathan, 36, had Tommy John elbow surgery in March 2010 and was a man on a mission as he stuck to his rehabilitation and reported to camp in shape and throwing 90 to 91 miles per hour. But he's 0-1 with an 8.44 ERA and three saves in five opportunities. He's given up six hits and walked five in 5 1/3 innings.

He had to push his pride to the side."