by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com (5/19/2013) The Athletics gave closer Grant Balfour a breather and rolled with reliever Ryan Cook in the final inning of Sunday's contest against the Royals.
Cook worked his way around back-to-back singles as he pitched a scoreless ninth inning to secure his first save of the season. His ERA went down to 1.74 after a 4-3 win.
Ryan Cook strikes out side in ninth inning
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com (4/4/2013) Athletics reliever Ryan Cook rebounded from a poor first game to strike out the side in the ninth inning of Oakland's 8-2 win over the Mariners Thursday. Cook, who hit one batter and walked three in his season debut, threw 10 of his 14 pitches for strikes in the perfect inning to lower his ERA to 5.40.
Cook losing grip on early saves?
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (3/4/2013) Oakland relievers Sean Doolittle and Ryan Cook may be competing for saves early in the season for as long as Grant Balfour is out. There is no guarantee that Balfour misses any regular-season time, but he's out for the time being and is questionable to be healthy to begin the year. Doolittle and Cook each pitched on Monday against the Angels in Cactus League competition. Doolittle pitched the fourth inning and went 1-2-3 with three strikeouts. Unfortunately, Cook struggled as he allowed three earned runs on four hits and a walk over his inning. Vernon Wells took Cook deep in the fifth for a three-run shot. Cook did strike out one batter.
Cook makes spring debut
(3/1/2013) A's reliever Ryan Cook made his spring debut in Friday's Cactus League game against the Giants. He walked one in one inning of no-hit ball. Cook is being considered for save chances in Oakland while Grant Balfour recovers from knee surgery.
Cook to close games again?
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (2/14/2013) A's manager Bob Melvin said closer Grant Balfour will undergo knee surgery Thursday to repair a torn meniscus. He is expected to miss 4-6 weeks, but Balfour could be ready for the start of the season. "I feel good about getting it done now. It will allow me to get ready for Game 1 of the season," Balfour said in a statement. "I knew the way I was feeling I wouldn't have been able to pitch through it all season long." If Balfour misses the start of the season, Ryan Cook and Sean Doolittle would be options to close games.
