Titans make A's pay for mistakes in 4-3 win

A's rally from 3-0 deficit with 3-run 9th only to lose in the bottom of the 10th

The A's may have outhit and outpitched the the AL favorite Titans, but a couple of defense miscues cost them the chance at a rewarding comeback victory, falling 4-3 in 10 innings.

The A's trailed 3-0 heading into the top of the 9th when Ryan Metcalfe led off with an infield single. Billy Dodson followed with a clean single to left and Mike Mastro', who led the A's with three of their 10 hits, hit a hot shot up the middle that the shortstop couldn't handle to get the A's first run of the game home.

The A's were down to their last out when Jon Breidinger stepped to the plate after a strikeout and a run scoring grounder by Keith Lederer. Breidinger ripped the ball to deep left center for a double that tied the game. Kevin Kennedy came close to winning the game ripping the next pitch into left, but he hit it too hard for the Big Breidinger to score from second on the single.

Dodson had held the Titans without a hit out of the infield in his first two innings but an infield single by Kenton Lewis on a weak nubber between the mound and first gave the Titans a leadoff runner.

He advanced to second on a wild pitch. The A's appeared to be out of the inning when Dodson struck out Tony Bulleri, but his curve ball squirted loose from Brodie Nissen, who threw out Bulleri at first, but Lewis aggressively ran to third on the throw and when Breidinger tried to cut him down his throw bounced past Kennedy at third allowing Lewis to score amidst his cheering teammates at the plate.

"I'm sure Jon feels bad, but he did more to win this game than to lose it," A's manager Ryan Metcalfe said. "He tied the game with a double, threw out a runner at the plate and pitched three hitless innings."

The Titans scored two runs in the seventh off Breidinger with the aid of three walks and a costly error by Ryan Metcalfe who let a ground go under his glove at first. Metcalfe also felt responsible for the run in the second with a soft liner by Seth Calliat, who picked up the win in relief,  just going over his glove to allow Joe Vitali to score.

"He never should have been on second," Dodson contended after the shortstop felt he tagged Vitali at second on a steal attempt earlier.

Although they had some miscues the A's did play good defense much of the game including a double play turned by Lederer and Dodson and running catches by all three outfielders -- Clinton Yeager (2-for-5), Rene Torres and Kevin Metcalfe. 

Just one of the four runs the Titans scored was earned with Kennedy and Dodson allowing just six hits.

Kevin Kennedy held the potent Titans in check allowing just one run (which could have been prevented with a little better defense and a call in the Titans favor) and four hits in four innings of work. He walked just one for his second quality start in two games.

Mike Mastro had 3 hits and reached base in all four plate appearances, scoring once. The REBL newcomer has quickly adapted after a layoff.

Brodie Nissen threw out two runners and perhaps one more if the ump caught the tag by Billy Dodson.

Mastro' - MVP