Hahn undone by defensive miscues after sterling start

OAKLAND -- The first five innings of Jesse Hahn's afternoon couldn't have gone much better. But after being stung by a defensive miscue, he could only watch as his team's lead slipped away.

Though he didn't factor into the decision of Sunday's 8-7 extra-innings loss to the Mariners, Hahn held his own in his second start with the A's and 14th of his career. The 25-year-old right-hander faced the minimum 15 batters through five frames, but was lifted with two outs in the sixth after the Mariners rallied to take a 4-3 lead.

"I felt great all game," Hahn said. "I probably had my best stuff today. I'm not going to look too far into this start. I've just got to control that situation better in the sixth inning."

Hahn might have shouldered the blame after the game, but he made pitches to get out of the inning. Holding a 3-1 lead with two outs in the sixth, Hahn induced a hard-hit line drive from Robinson Cano that looked like it was going to kill the threat. Instead, Josh Reddick misplayed it and allowed two runs to score, as the Mariners tied the game and extended the inning. A's manager Bob Melvin eventually lifted Hahn after he walked Nelson Cruz and then allowed a go-ahead RBI single by Kyle Seager.

"I should have kept the same approach in that sixth inning," Hahn said. "I think I did a bad job of that. Mistake pitch to Robinson Cano and he was able to pull it down the right-field line."

According to A's catcher Stephen Vogt, Hahn's changeup and curveball were so effective, that he didn't need to call for a slider all game. Not bad for a youngster facing off against one of the game's premier pitchers in Felix Hernandez.

"Every day I try to go out and put zeros on the board," Hahn said. "That's my job. It doesn't matter who's on the other side."