50 Grant Balfour, RP

Athletics closer Grant Balfour stayed perfect in save opportunites with his eighth Saturday against the Royals. He walked one in a scoreless inning and dropped his ERA to 1.56 in 17 1/3 innings.

Athletics closer Grant Balfour entered Friday's contest against the Royals in the ninth inning with a one-run lead.

Balfour needed just 16 pitches as he struck out one and retired the side in order to secure a 2-1 victory. He has a 1.65 ERA and has converted all seven of his save opportunities.

Athletics closer Grant Balfour notched his sixth save Saturday against the Mariners. Balfour came on with a 4-3 lead in the ninth inning and was able to keep Seattle off the scoreboard.

He did issue a walk and single in the inning but recorded a pair of strikeouts before getting Kyle Seager to ground out to second base to end the game.

Balfour has now converted on each of his last 24 save chances dating back to last year.

Athletics closer Grant Balfour extended his streak of consecutive recorded saves to 23 on Sunday in New York. It wasn't that easy, but he got the job done. 

Balfour needed 24 pitches and allowed a walk and a base hit, but struck out two for his fifth save of the year. His ERA is 2.03. 

The 35-year-old closer has recorded saves in back-to-back appearances after going four straight appearances without one.