stiffened

Certainly, the competition level stiffened recently with Indiana and Ohio State handing the Cornhuskers losses in their two most recent games.

Cole stiffened, striking out Gavin Lux with a 99-mph fastball and Shohei Ohtani with a nasty 87-mph knuckle-curve, moving to within one out of escaping the jam.

Disaster was averted thanks to a defense that stiffened and an offense that started moving the ball at something beyond a snail’s pace.

But Dodgers left-hander Alex Vesia stiffened, striking out Ceddanne Rafaela with an 85-mph changeup, pinch-hitter Connor Wong with a 93-mph fastball and Duran with a 93-mph fastball to complete a 30-pitch inning.

While it’s clear Mr. Biden has physically slowed and his gait stiffened in recent years, his doctor in February called him “fit for duty.”