RHP John Axford (strained right shoulder) was activated from the disabled list before Saturday afternoon's game against Boston. Axford had been on the disabled list since April 2. He has made 471 career major-league relief appearances, many of those in the late innings. Last year, Axford went 6-4 with a 3.97 ERA in 68 appearances in his first season with the A's. Axford did not make an appearance in Oakland's 8-3 victory.

RHP John Axford was activated from the 10-day disabled list by the Athletics on Saturday. Axford was on Oakland's Opening Day roster, but was placed on the disabled list on April 5 (retroactive to April 2) because of a strained right shoulder before appearing in a game. He began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Nashville on May 13 and did not allow a run in three appearances over 3 1/3 innings. It was his first career stint on the disabled list.

The Oakland Athletics reinstated right-hander John Axford from the 10-day disabled list on Saturday and placed right-hander Ryan Dull on the DL because of a strained right knee.Axford was on Oakland's Opening Day roster but was placed on the disabled list on April 5 (retroactive to April 2) because of a strained right shoulder before appearing in a game. He began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Nashville on May 13 and did not allow a run in three appearances over 3 1/3 innings. It was his first career stint on the disabled list.Dull was 2-2 with a 6.32 ERA in 18 relief appearances with Oakland before straining his right knee in Friday night's 3-2, 10-inning win over the Boston Red Sox. He has a .233 opponents batting average but has issued nine walks and has five wild pitches in 15 2/3 innings this season. He is 2-2 with a 6.32 ERA.The A's also reinstated right-hander Daniel Mengden from the 10-day disabled list and optioned him to Triple-A Nashville.Mengden began the year on the disabled list after undergoing surgery on his right foot on Feb. 8. He began a rehab assignment with Nashville on May 8 and went 1-1 with a 3.38 ERA in three starts.

RHP John Axford (strained right shoulder) will be activated from the disabled list on Saturday or Sunday against Boston, A's manager Bob Melvin said Friday. Axford has been on the disabled list since April 2 and has yet to make an appearance for the A's this season. He pitched a scoreless inning in relief for Triple-A Nashville on Thursday in his third rehab appearance. He has allowed no runs and two hits over 3 1/3 innings for the Sounds. Axford is 34-32 with a 3.58 ERA in 471 career relief appearances. "We've missed him," Melvin said "It's given an opportunity for some other guys, but we have missed him. It will be nice to get him back."

RHP John Axford (strained right shoulder) threw a pain-free, 31-pitch bullpen session Sunday and will throw to hitters in batting practice on Wednesday. "And if all goes well, he will probably go out on some sort of [rehab] assignment," A's manager Bob Melvin said. Axford has been on the 10-day disabled list since April 2. "It feels really good," Axford said of his shoulder.

RHP John Axford, who was placed on the 10-day disabled list Wednesday retroactive to April 2 with a muscle strain in his right shoulder, has been told not to pick up a ball for a week. Oakland manager Bob Melvin said Axford will likely be out for more than the 10-day period.

RHP John Axford was placed on the 10-day disabled list, retroactive to Sunday, with a strained right shoulder. Axford felt tightness in his shoulder after throwing a curveball while warming up in the bullpen Tuesday night. "Threw another pitch and just wasn't getting any better," manager Bob Melvin said. "It was a complete surprise not only to us but to him." This marks Axford's first stint on the DL in his eight-year career. He had a 3.52 ERA in eight appearances during spring training.

RHP John Axford pitched a scoreless ninth inning for his second save of the season Wednesday night in a 1-0 victory against Baltimore. Axford gave up a leadoff single to CF Adam Jones, then got three straight outs. Regular closer Ryan Madson, who had saves in one-run wins against Baltimore on Monday and Tuesday, got the night off, so Axford filled in. Madson has 24 saves.

RHP John Axford took responsibility for the Athletics' 6-5 loss to Seattle after giving up a double, a two-run homer and a walk to the only three batters he faced after taking over in the eighth. "I just didn't do my job," he said after the game. "I didn't get anyone out, I didn't do anything right, and that is what cost us there."

RHP John Axford's x-rays came back negative after he was hit in the left foot by a line drive in Monday's game. "Just the fact that he was able to give us an inning (on Monday was admirable)," A's manager Bob Melvin said of Axford, who stayed in the game. "I know for him it wasn't great, based on the way he's performed for us. ... We told him, if you feel like you can't do this, let's get out of here. But he wanted to pitch, and he's that type of guy." Axford is 2-1 with a 3.60 ERA over 15 innings in 13 appearances this year.

RHP John Axford allowed his first run of the season on Tuesday while pitching the ninth inning in Detroit. He gave up a two-out, two-run double to Victor Martinez before finishing the game. He had not given up a run in his first nine games and 10 innings with the club. Axford had not faced the Tigers since July 19, 2014.

RHP John Axford and the A's finalized a two-year, $10 million deal Friday.Axford, 32, became a free agent in late November when the Rockies outrighted him off the 40-man roster and he cleared waivers. He finished 25-for-31 in save chances for Colorado this year, compiling a 4-5 record and a 4.20 ERA in 60 relief appearances.

RHP John Axford and the A's agreed to a two-year, $10 million deal, multiple media outlets reported Wednesday.Axford, 32, became a free agent in late November when the Rockies outrighted him off the 40-man roster and he cleared waivers. He finished 25-for-31 in save chances for Colorado this year, compiling a 4-5 record and a 4.20 ERA in 60 relief appearances.

RHP John Axford, designated for assignment by the Rockies on Nov. 20, cleared waivers and became a free agent on Nov. 25. Axford, 32, went 4-5 with 25 saves and a 4.20 ERA in 60 appearances for Colorado this year.

Axford pitched a clean ninth inning to earn his 25th save of the season in Friday's win over the Dodgers.

Axford has now converted nine of his last 10 save chances. The opportunities haven't been plentiful this season for Axford, who temporarily lost the closer's role in late July following a string of four consecutive blown saves. Aside from that rough patch, he's been one of the Rockies' more reliable bullpen arms, though his rather mediocre 4.36 ERA illustrates how poor the relief corps has been this season.

Axford was lit up for four runs on three hits and a walk while recording just one out in Wednesday's 13-7 loss to the Pirates.

Axford entered the top of the ninth inning with the Rockies facing a 7-6 deficit, but quickly squandered any chance of a comeback by allowing a bases-clearing double to Sean Rodriguez. The ugly outing was a rare misstep for Axford in the last few weeks, as he had given up only two runs over his previous 14.2 innings.

Axford allowed a walk in a scoreless ninth inning to pick up his 24th save in a 7-4 win over the Padres on Friday.

Axford blew a save in his last outing, but that can be chalked up to bad luck, as an infield and bloop hit did him in. Aside from that Axford has been sparkling since regaining the closer's role. Since August 13, Axford has allowed just two runs while striking out 20 batters in 14.2 innings. The velocity is what's most impressive, as he's been hitting upper-90's regularly since his insertion back into the closer's role.

Axford was charged with his sixth blown save of the season after giving up a run on two hits and a walk in the bottom of the 11th inning of Tuesday's 16-inning victory over the Dodgers.

Axford was the ninth pitcher to enter the game for the Rockies on a night where manager Walt Weiss would burn through a MLB-record 13 pitchers. It was the first run Axford had allowed since Aug. 13 and his first blown save since taking back the closer's role from Tommy Kahnle.

Axford worked around a base hit to pitch a scoreless ninth inning and claim his 23rd save in Sunday's win over the Mariners.

Axford has converted all seven save opportunities he's seen since taking back the closer's role, surrendering no runs and striking out 14 batters over 8.2 innings during that span. The late-season success could make Axford a desirable commodity when he hits free agency this winter.

Axford allowed a hit and a walks while striking out three to pick up his 22nd save in a 4-3 win over Seattle on Friday.

Since regaining the closer role, Axford has been fantastic. In fact, he has nine straight scoreless outings with 14 strikeouts and his velocity is as a season-high. Axford actually hit 100 MPH tonight and it appears the time off from the closers role last month did Axford a world of good. Look for him to have a strong finish to the season and perform like he did at the beginning of the year.