Joe Nathan: Pitches 'a lot livelier' in last outing

What Tigers veteran closer Joe Nathan described as a "dead arm period" is over, he told MLB.com after shutting down Cleveland for a save Thursday afternoon.

"Today was more how I felt, being able to finish," he said after retiring the Indians in order in the ninth. "My velocity is what it's going to be, but moreso I was locating where I wanted to. But it did feel like it was a lot livelier. There's different 91s, different 92s, but today, at least finishing pitches, it felt like it was jumping out of my hand better."

Nathan had yielded five earned runs, seven hits and four walks in his previous 3 1/3 innings covering four appearances.