A's bash Brewers in 16-3 blowout

Three pitchers combine on 1-hit shutout, newcomer Shawn Purcell shines in 1st game

With the A's shorthanded and struggling to fill out a lineup, Shawn Purcell came to the rescue in his first game since struggling with a back injury in the spring. Purcell pitched three perfect innings of relief and picked up two hits in the A's 16-3 victory over the Brewers on Sunday.

The A's likely would have survived without Purcell, outhitting the Brewers 17-1 in eight innings, but having the extra body helped with several players missing and others injured.

"Shawn gave us a boost at the right time and we hope to have him for the stretch drive and playoffs," A's manager Ryan Metcalfe said. "It was great to finally see him out there after he came highly recommend and seemed so excited to play the first couple weeks before he sat out with his injury."

Purcell came recommended to the A's from College of Marin coach Steve Berringer, who played with Purcell and fellow A's pitcher Jon Breidinger at COM in the mid 90s. Purcell also played with Mike Mastro' on the Novato Knicks in 2000.

The A's were sloppy early, allowing two unearned runs on a pair of errors in the second that allowed the Brewers to tie the game 2-2, but A's pitchers allowed just one hit and three walks in nine innings. Kevin Kennedy pitched three solid innings, allowing the one hit and two walks, but errors allowed the only runs off him.

Purcell followed with three perfect innings, striking out seven of the nine batters he faced with his big curve ball leading the way.

Jon Breidinger closed with an amazing seven strikeouts in two innings. He struck out the first batter he faced in the seventh on a nasty curveball reserve catcher Billy Dodson was unable to block. The batter came all the way around to score on more wild pitches, but the Brewers had as much trouble hitting the pitches and Dodson did catching them.

The A's offense erupted for 10 runs in the fifth inning to blow what was a close, 5-2 game wide open. Clinton Yeager led off the fifth with a walk and stole two of his four bases on the day to score on a dropped sacrifice fly hit by Dodson.

Singles by Mastro and Purcell followed and another error opened the door for a two-run double by Kevin Kennedy. Keith Lederer then came through with a two-run single Dodson tomahawked a two-run double in his second at-bat in the inning and Mastro' closed the scoring with a two-run single.

Mastro' finished the game 4-for-5 with 3 RBIs and Dodson finished 3-for-4 with 4 RBIs and three runs. Dodson also had the RBI single that put the A's ahead to stay in the third, driving in Yeager.

Kevin Metcalfe broke out of a slump with a two hits and an RBI. Yeager, Purcell and Kennedy also had two hits in the game.

With the win the A's (13-1) increased their lead in first place to two game because the rival Titans lost to the Astros. The A's play the Red Sox at 2 p.m. Sunday at A Place to Play Park in Santa Rosa.

Shawn Purcell energized the A's with his big bender, striking out 7 while facing the minimum in 3 innings during his first appearance.

Shawn Purcell had two hits and scored two runs in his debut.

Kevin Kennedy woke up his bat with a pair of hits, including a two-run double to break out of an 0-for-10 slump. He also picked the win.

Mike Mastro' (above) had four hits in five trips with three RBIs.

Billy Dodson (below) uses a long reach to hit a two-run double.

Mastro'- MVP    Mike Mastro is the recipient of a roll of Brawny
                             paper towels from A's sponsor Georgia Pacific.