"With a seven-run lead against Cleveland in the ninth inning Saturday, Twins manager Ron Gardenhire gave Joe Nathan a closing opportunity — and Nathan responded as if he had a point to prove.

Nathan, demoted from the Twins' closer role during last week's four-game series in Baltimore, retired the Indians in order in the ninth on 13 pitches to cap an impressive 10-3 victory at Target Field. Travis Hafner opened the inning with a pop up to second baseman Michael Cuddyer, and Orlando Cabrera and Michael Brantley struck out swinging.

Despite Nathan's sharp performance, Gardenhire wasn't ready to make Nathan the team's top closer again, a role currently filled by Matt Capps.

"Maybe there's something to build on, but it's going to take a few more of those," Gardenhire said of Nathan's strong ninth inning. "The ball came out of his hand pretty good. He looked relaxed and wasn't trying to muscle it up."

Nathan landed nine of his 13 pitches in the strike zone. His slider appeared to be his best pitch. He used a slider to retire Cabrera.

"That was an outstanding pitch," Gardenhire said of Cabrera's strikeout. "It snapped at the end."

Twins starter Brian Duensing (2-0) also was impressed with Nathan's work.

"That's how I remember Joe, going 1-2-3 in an inning," Duensing said. "That slider was nasty. Maybe a game like this is all he needs to get his confidence and get rolling again." "