Despite closer Joe Nathan's struggles in Friday's Game 2, giving up the tying two-run homer to Alex Rodriguez, the Twins aren't fretting about the four-time All-Star.

Manager Ron Gardenhire called it "stunning" when Nathan blows a save like he did in New York.

"That's normally Katy bar the door, as they say and we've always said," Gardenhire said. "That's one of those really tough ones because he's so good and sets the table so high."

Catcher Joe Mauer acknowledged Nathan missed some of his spots, but pinned most of the problem on Rodriguez.

"He's a pretty good hitter. I think everybody knows that," Mauer said. "You make mistakes, and good hitters will make you pay."

The Twins were confident they can put the devastating defeat behind them and bounce back in the series — and avoid another late-inning lost lead.

"We feel pretty good giving Nathan the ball in those situations," Mauer said. "He's a professional, and he's one of the best in the game. I think he's going to put that behind him, and if we need him tomorrow I think he'll go out there and do a great job for us."

Meanwhile, Twins third baseman Matt Tolbert was placed on the disabled list yesterday with a strained left oblique muscle. Brendan Harris will start at third base in Game 3.

PHILLIES-ROCKIES

SNOW POSTPONES GAME 3

Despite all the problems with cold weather, including yesterday's snowout at frigid Coors Field, Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said it's just part of postseason baseball.

"Ever since I can remember, baseball is played this way and if you happen to be in a city where you can have this kind of weather, or the kind of weather we had in Philadelphia last year, really, I've heard people say they should move it to a place where it's warm and sunny and everything like that," Manuel said.

"I disagree with that, because I think when fans come to see their team play all year long, 162 games, 81 at their hometown, I think they deserve a right to see their team during the playoff and World Series."

Manuel was on Cleveland's coaching staff for the coldest game in postseason history. It was 35 degrees for Game 4 of the 1997 World Series at Cleveland between the Indians and Florida Marlins.

"I've seen pitchers totally be dominant in cold weather, and then in the World Series, some of those playoff game series I was in I saw a lot of hitting against what we thought was very good pitching for us," Manuel said.

Had the Rockies and Phillies played Game 3 last night as scheduled, the record would have been shattered. Temperatures were in the lower 20s after a low of 17 was recorded yesterday morning.