Rangers had planned to rest Joe Nathan another day

Don't read too much into Alexi Ogando's appearance in the ninth inning of the Rangers' 4-1 victory over Minnesota.

Joe Nathan, who suffered a blown save Wednesday and has been the losing pitcher in both Rangers defeat this season, was simply getting an extra game off and was not being relieved of his duties as closer.

Nathan, who had worked in consecutive games Tuesday and Wednesday, did not pitch Thursday against Seattle. Manager Ron Washington reiterated that Nathan is the team's closer, but didn't mention that Nathan wouldn't be used in the opener against the Twins.

Washington cited the 26 pitches thrown Wednesday by Nathan, when he surrendered three runs in a 4-3 loss, as the reason for the extra day.

"He had a big workload the last time out there, and we decided to give him one more," Washington said. "He'll be back in there tomorrow."

The save for Ogando was the first of his career.

-- Jeff Wilson