JAKE DIEKMAN NEWS

Wild pitch in the 9th lifts Athletics past Twins 7-6

Matt Chapman had three hits and three RBIs and Ramón Laureano scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch in the ninth inning as the Oakland Athletics defeated the Minnesota Twins 7-6

MAY 16, 2021 • Associated Press

Maeda expected to start as Twins host the Athletics

The Twins will roll out Kenta Maeda to the mound Sunday and the Athletics plan to give Chris Bassitt the start

MAY 16, 2021 • Associated Press

Blows save, takes loss Diekman (2-1) was charged with the blown save and took the loss by giving up one run on one hit while recording one out during Saturday's 5-4 loss to the Twins.

Impact The 34-year-old was called upon to escape a two-on, two-out jam with the A's leading 4-2 during the eighth inning, but he instead served up a three-run homer to Miguel Sano. It was a tough break for Diekman, as the fly ball traveled 349 feet to right field and had an xBA of .120 but still managed to find the seats. The left-hander has converted five of six save chances with a 2.60 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 25:7 K:BB over 17.1 innings.

MAY 16, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Sano 3-run homer propels struggling Twins past A's 5-4

Miguel Sanó snapped a 19-game homerless drought with a three-run homer in the eighth inning and the Minnesota Twins came back to beat the Oakland Athletics 5-4

MAY 15, 2021 • Associated Press

Nails down fifth save Diekman struck out two in a perfect ninth inning Wednesday to record his fifth save of the season in a 4-1 win over the Red Sox.

Impact Lou Trivino worked the eighth inning against the heart of Boston's order, including right-handed hitters J.D. Martinez and Xander Bogaerts, leaving the ninth -- and the 7-8-9 hitters -- to Diekman. The duo will likely continue trading closing duties back and forth between them depending on matchups, but Diekman has been the more effective pitcher overall, posting a 2.12 ERA and 25:7 K:BB through 17 innings.

MAY 13, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Kaprielian picks up 1st MLB win as A's outlast Red Sox 4-1

James Kaprielian got the victory in his first major league start with five innings of one-run ball, Matt Olson homered and the Oakland Athletics held off the Boston Red Sox 4-1

MAY 13, 2021 • Associated Press

Notches fourth save Diekman walked two and struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning Tuesday to record his fourth save of the season in a 3-2 win over the Red Sox.

Impact The southpaw needed 21 pitches (only 10 strikes) to finish off the win, but he was able to escape unscathed. Diekman has been effective in a closer tandem with Lou Trivino, picking up two wins and four holds in addition to his saves with a 2.25 ERA and 23:7 K:BB over 16 innings.

MAY 12, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Bassitt pitches A's past Red Sox 3-2 at Fenway

Chris Bassitt struck out a season-high 10 over seven innings and the Oakland Athletics beat the Boston Red Sox 3-2 in a matchup of American League division leaders

MAY 12, 2021 • Associated Press

Seth Brown delivers the big hits again, A's beat Rays 6-3

Seth Brown hit a two-run homer in the first inning a day after delivering a walkoff drive, sending the Oakland Athletics past the Tampa Bay Rays again with a 6-3 win

MAY 8, 2021 • Associated Press

Oakland hosts Tampa Bay, aims to build on Manaea's strong showing

Oakland looks to follow up a dominant outing by Friday starter Sean Manaea

MAY 8, 2021 • Associated Press

Picks up win Friday Diekman (2-0) earned the win against Tampa Bay on Friday, striking out both batters he faced in the ninth inning.

Impact Diekman entered the contest in the top of ninth with the scored tied 1-1. He made quick work of Brandon Lowe and Yandy Diaz, needing nine pitches to retire both batters. The southpaw was then credited with the win after Seth Brown hit a walkoff homer in the bottom of the frame. Diekman has been impressive over 14 innings this season, registering a 1.93 ERA and 20:5 K:BB along with three saves and three holds.

MAY 8, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Manaea's no-hit bid ends, A's win on second big hit by Brown

Lefty Sean Manaea’s bid to pitch baseball’s second no-hitter of the night ended on a leadoff double in the eighth inning by high school teammate Mike Brosseau, then Seth Brown hit...

MAY 8, 2021 • Associated Press

Manaea scheduled to start as Oakland hosts Tampa Bay

The Rays will start Rich Hill on Friday while the Athletics are expected to counter with Sean Manaea

MAY 7, 2021 • Associated Press

Teoscar Hernández gets key hit as Blue Jays beat A's 9-4

Teoscar Hernández hit a tiebreaking RBI single during Toronto’s five-run eighth inning, and the Blue Jays beat the Athletics 9-4

MAY 6, 2021 • Associated Press

Snags third save Diekman struck out two batters in a perfect ninth earning to earn a save over the Blue Jays on Monday.

Impact Diekman needed just 11 pitches to quickly finish off the 5-4 win for Oakland after striking out Danny Jansen and Cavan Biggio. He owns a 2.03 ERA and 18:5 K:BB while converting all three of his save chances this season.

MAY 4, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Laureano stays hot, homers again as A's top Blue Jays 5-4

Ramon Laureano homered for the third consecutive day and the Oakland Athletics beat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-4, spoiling Marcus Semien’s return to the Coliseum

MAY 4, 2021 • Associated Press

Gets first win of '21 Diekman (1-0) was credited with the win in a victory over the Rays on Thursday, firing a perfect eighth inning during which he recorded a strikeout.

Impact The left-hander got 11 of 17 pitches into the strike zone during an efficient eighth frame and was rewarded with the victory when the one-run lead afforded by Matt Chapman's go-ahead RBI double in the top of the ninth inning held up. After uncharacteristically allowing four runs (three earned) over his first three trips to the mound this season, Diekman has bounced back to rattle off eight straight scoreless efforts while also recording two saves, three holds and Thursday's win.

APRIL 30, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Chapman leads A's over Rays 3-2 in McClanahan's debut

Matt Chapman homered and hit a go-ahead double with two outs in the ninth inning, leading the Oakland Athletics over the Tampa Bay Rays 3-2

APRIL 29, 2021 • Associated Press

Notches third hold Diekman secured his third hold in a win over the Rays on Monday, allowing a hit and a walk as well as uncorking a wild pitch over one inning. He struck out one.

Impact It was certainly a more eventful frame than the normally efficient Diekman is accustomed to, but the veteran left-hander ultimately worked himself out of trouble to set up Lou Trivino for a save opportunity in the ninth inning. Diekman has now recorded seven straight scoreless efforts, and the single he allowed to Randy Arozarena was the first hit against him since April 10, a span of six appearances.

APRIL 27, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Murphy, Manaea and A's regain winning touch, beat Rays 2-1

Sean Murphy homered, Sean Manaea got some key defensive help and the Oakland Athletics rebounded a day after their 13-game winning streak ended, edging the Tampa Bay Rays 2-1

APRIL 27, 2021 • Associated Press

Picks up second save Diekman struck out one in a perfect ninth inning to earn a save against the Orioles on Friday.

Impact Lou Trivino had pitched on two of the last three days and gave up two runs (one earned) in Wednesday's win over Minnesota. As a result, Diekman was brought in to preserve a 3-1 lead in the ninth inning of Friday's contest, and he pitched a perfect frame to pick up his second straight save. Trivino could still be the slight favorite for save chances in Oakland, but Diekman has allowed just two hits and one walk while striking out seven in 6.2 innings across his last six appearances.

APRIL 24, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

'It's tubular right now': A's win 12th in a row, top O's 3-1

The Oakland Athletics earned their 12th consecutive victory -- their longest winning streak in almost two decades — defeating the Baltimore Orioles 3-1

APRIL 24, 2021 • Associated Press

Notches first save Diekman struck out two in a perfect seventh inning to record his first save of the season in the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Twins.

Impact Lou Trivino was called in with one out and one on in the sixth inning of a 1-0 game and struck out both batters he faced, leaving closing duties to Diekman in the seventh. The lefty did have a bit of a nervous outing thanks to an Elvis Andrus error and a Willians Astudillo rocket that died at the wall in left field for the final out of the ballgame, but Diekman still came away with his first save since he was a Ranger in 2018. He's got a 3.24 ERA and 11:3 K:BB through 8.1 innings, but Trivino still seems to be Oakland's top option in the bullpen and should receive most of the closing opportunities.

APRIL 21, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Luzardo follows Manaea's stellar start, A's beat Twins twice

Matt Olson hit a grand slam, Mitch Moreland homered twice to back Sean Manaea’s shutout, then Jesús Luzardo followed with his own Game 2 gem as the Oakland Athletics swept a double...

APRIL 21, 2021 • Associated Press

Nabs second hold Diekman was credited with his second hold in a win over the Tigers on Friday, firing a perfect eighth inning in which he struck out the side.

Impact Diekman was in vintage 2020 form for arguably the first time this season Friday, mowing through a trio of Tigers on 17 pitches. The veteran left-hander has now put together three straight scoreless efforts, lowering his ERA from 10.13 to 4.26 in the process while recording his first two holds of the campaign.

APRIL 17, 2021 • ROTOWIRE