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Haren, Athletics power past Reds

Jun 21, 2007 - 12:28 AM OAKLAND, California (Ticker) -- Oakland's Dan Haren gave up some runs, yet still found a way to win the game.

Haren allowed three runs for the first time since April 13 and pitched seven innings to win his ninth consecutive decision as the Athletics defeated the Cincinnati Reds, 5-3, on Wednesday.

Haren (9-2), who allowed six hits and struck out five, slightly increased his microscopic ERA to 1.78.

"I didn't have my best stuff that's for sure," Haren said. "I put us in a hole just like I did last game, but I knew if I could get 6-7 innings and put up zeros, and outlast their starting pitcher, I'd have a good chance to win. But I didn't feel very good all day, not that anything hurt but I couldn't find it and couldn't quite get the pitches where I wanted."

"He's just continuing to dominate games. He settled in and pitched like a true All-Star," Oakland manager Bob Geren said. "He's been pitching tremendous."

With the Reds clinging to a 3-2 lead, Cincinnati starter Matt Belisle was lifted for Marcus McBeth to start the seventh.

"My ball was running right off the plate and I was trying to be too fine," said Belisle, who walked four and allowed four hits in six innings. "I shouldn't do that. I didn't walk that many guys, but I fell behind guys and that's what happens."

Bobby Crosby reached base on an infield single. A single by Mark Ellis put runners at the corners, and manager Jerry Narron called for lefthanded reliever Jon Coutlangus.

A wild pitch by Coutlangus advanced Ellis to second and Mark Kotsay walked to load the bases. Coutlangus couldn't find the strike zone and walked Nick Swisher on five pitches to tie the game.

"I was upset with myself for not making the pitches I wanted to make," Coutlangus said. "I didn't make the pitches in a big situation. I'm not going to try and blow his doors off. I'm just not hitting my spots. If I hit my spot, everything is OK."

Eric Chavez hit a sacrifice fly to center for the go-ahead run scoring Ellis.

"The two base on balls in the sixth inning, if (Belisle) doesn't do that, he has a better chance of going back out there," Cincinnati manager Jerry Narron said. "But we started a clean inning with McBeth and to give up an infield hit and a bloop hit, McBeth wasn't that bad.

"As for Coutlangus you can't come in the game and walk a lefthanded hitter that you face, you've got to make him put the ball in play."

Oakland's Shannon Stewart added an insurance run in the eighth with a solo home run.

The Reds took a 3-0 lead before the A's chipped away.

Adam Dunn hit a one-out homer in the top of the fourth to right field. Dunn, who is the reigning National League Player of the Week after batting .500 with four home runs and eight RBI, has homered four times in the past six games.

Edwin Encarnacion followed with single to left and stole second base. Josh Hamilton then hit an opposite field home run giving Cincinnati a three-run lead.

The Athletics answered in the bottom of the fourth. Chavez reached base on a fielding error by second baseman Brandon Phillips. Jack Cust took advantage of the miscue by crushing a Belisle fastball over the wall in deep left center.

"Right when I gave up the three runs, Cust comes up and hits a home run to put us right back in the game," Haren said. "I was a little down, obviously, after putting us in a hole and he picks everybody right back up and he picked me up and I went out there and threw up more zeros and got the win."

"I'm just trying to stay within myself and not try and do too much and kill every ball," said Cust, who batted .500 (11-for-22) on the homestand with two home runs and five RBIs. "I kind of know the situation, know the counts and what they're trying to throw you.

"Sometimes when I get into a little funk, you start swinging the bat more and you start swinging at worse pitches, so I'm trying to stay within myself."

Oakland attempted to tie the game in the fifth. Kotsay doubled to right with two outs. Swisher singled to right, but Kotsay was thrown out at the plate on a strong throw from Norris Hopper, who was playing shallow and easily nailed Kotsay.

Alan Embree pitched the final two innings to earn his eighth save.

"It's a tough task," Geren said of the six-out save. "It looked like a good spot in their lineup where he could get six outs. That was a great performance."