Saalfrank (2-1) struck out one in a perfect inning to earn the win over the Giants on Tuesday.
Saalfrank was down over the weekend due to left shoulder fatigue that prompted imaging, but it appears nothing concerning was found, as the reliever was able to return after a few days off. Saalfrank ended up with the win after pitching a clean top of the ninth inning, after the Diamondbacks walked it off in their half of the frame. He's been part of a closer committee late in the season, picking up three saves and five holds since the start of August. Overall, Saalfrank has a 1.33 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 19:8 K:BB through 27 innings this season.
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Diamondbacks' Andrew Saalfrank: Nursing shoulder fatigue
Rotowire
Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said Monday that Saalfrank is dealing with left shoulder fatigue, Diamondbacks on SI reports.
Lovullo intimated that he knew Saalfrank wasn't 100 percent when he used him during Friday's game in Minnesota, but the skipper felt it was an emergency situation and Saalfrank "gave us what he could." Saalfrank allowed one walk in one-third of an inning and was charged with a blown save in the appearance. Lovullo also indicated that Saakfrank would undergo imaging just to make sure he's not dealing with anything beyond fatigue. Consider the lefty reliever day-to-day at this point. Saalfrank has picked up three saves as part of the Diamondbacks' closer by committee. Kyle Backhus, Jake Woodford and Taylor Rashi have each registered one save for Arizona this month.
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Diamondbacks' Andrew Saalfrank: Records blown save Saturday
Rotowire
Saalfrank was charged with a blown save in Saturday's 10-7 loss against the Rockies. He allowed two runs on two hits over two-thirds of an inning.
The southpaw entered in the eighth inning with a one-run lead, one out and two runners in scoring position, and he promptly gave up the lead by allowing a two-run single to Kyle Farmer. A few batters later, Saalfrank served up a two-run homer to Tyler Freeman. Saalfrank came into Saturday's outing with a sparkling 0.64 ERA through 14 innings on the season, but some regression was inevitable -- after Saturday's performance, he carries a 1.84 ERA to go along with a 1.16 WHIP.
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Diamondbacks' Andrew Saalfrank: Earns first big-league save
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Saalfrank delivered a perfect ninth inning Wednesday to record the save in a 6-4 victory over the Rangers.
With Jalen Beeks unavailable after pitching Tuesday and Kyle Backhus working in the seventh inning, it was Saalfrank who got the call for the save after Arizona took the lead with four runs in the top half of the ninth inning. The left-hander got the job done, setting down the top of the Rangers order to earn his first major-league save. The 27-year-old Saalfrank has been impressive since rejoining the Diamondbacks in early July. He's allowed just one run while striking out nine in his first 14 MLB innings this year, establishing himself as a high-leverage option down the stretch.
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Diamondbacks' Andrew Saalfrank: Reinstated, sent to rookie ball
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The Diamondbacks reinstated Saalfrank (suspension) from the ineligible list and optioned him to the rookie-level Arizona Complex League on Thursday.
Saalfrank will take back a spot on the Diamondbacks' 40-man roster and will be available to compete again after he served a one-year suspension stemming from violations of MLB's gambling policy. Before he was handed the ban last June, Saalfrank appeared in two games out of the Arizona bullpen but had otherwise pitched exclusively at Triple-A Reno, where he logged a 2.63 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 28:10 K:BB in 24 innings. Since he wasn't able to pitch in any rehab games while he was suspended, Saalfrank will ease back into action in rookie ball before likely reporting back to Reno within the next few weeks.
