DETROIT -- Detroit Tigers closer Joe Nathan knew what the Kansas City Royals had planned when they brought Jarrod Dyson in as a pinch-runner Tuesday night.

The Royals wanted Dyson to steal third base. Nathan made sure it didn't happen.

In what was arguably the biggest out this season for the Detroit Tigers, Nathan picked off Dyson at second base for the second out of the ninth inning before striking out Salvador Perez for the final out of the game.

"It was a huge out for us there," Nathan said after Detroit's 4-2 win, which helped the Tigers grab a share of first place with the Royals in the AL Central.

The pickoff proved to be incredibly important and changed the complexion of the game for the Tigers, who appeared to be on the verge of spoiling another strong start from starting pitcher Max Scherzer.

The Royals mounted a rally and threatened in the ninth inning when Nathan brought the go-ahead run to the plate after giving up back-to-back soft infield singles to Nori Aoki and Omar Infante to start the inning.

But, this time, there would be no meltdown from Nathan.

After falling behind 2-0 in the count, Nathan battled back and punched out AL MVP candidate Alex Gordon, who struck out on a foul tip. After Perez fell behind 0-1, Royals manager Ned Yost decided to pinch-run Dyson for Aoki at second base.

"After the first strike (to Perez), I'm like, 'OK, I'm going to put Dyson in there,'" Yost said. "See if, with the two fast guys, maybe we can pick up a stolen base and then a base hit scores them. That was the thought process."

It didn't work.

Yost didn't give the steal sign, but said Dyson's job was to find a spot and go on first movement. Nathan was well aware of the plan. So was second baseman Ian Kinsler, who gave the sign to attempt a second pick-off move after the first failed.

"He just gave me a quick little inside move sign to do it again," Nathan said. "I gave (Dyson) a better leg kick and made it look like I was going to the plate, so fortunately it work. It was a big out with, obviously, their big boppers coming up."

It was a head-scratching move by Yost, considering Aoki -- who has 15 stolen bases this season -- is an above-average runner and could likely score from second on a base hit in the outfield. It was also a strange move given the fact Perez was hitting and first baseman Eric Hosmer, the cleanup hitter, was on deck.

Yost was asked whether the move to bring in Dyson as a pinch-runner and attempt a stolen base showed a lack of confidence in Perez and Hosmer.

"What are you saying? Because if we steal there that I don't have confidence that we'll drive them in?" Yost replied. "Absolutely, I have confidence in them."

After a brief pause, Yost interrupted a question from a reporter and returned to the question about his thought process behind having Dyson and pinch-runner Terrance Gore attempt a double-steal.

"You've got two weapons like Gore and Dyson -- they steal a base and all of the sudden it takes a single now, instead of a home run or double to score those guys," Yost said. "My confidence level in those guys is great. I've got all the confidence in the world that they're going to get a base hit there."

Nathan, who had one pickoff in his career prior to Tuesday, earned his 30th save in 36 chances, and has now converted 10 of his last 11 save opportunities. He still allowed two base hits and owns an unimpressive 1.51 WHIP, but he continues to get the job done by closing out games and securing wins in the second half of the season.

And the game he closed out Tuesday night may be his biggest this season.

"It was a good save for him," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. "And really, the only thing that I'm hoping for is Joe continues to be Joe down the stretch for three more weeks."

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