Oakland, CA (Best E Casino) - Erick Aybar's infield single drove in the go- ahead run in the ninth inning, and Francisco Rodriguez worked out of a bases- loaded, one-out jam in the home half to give the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim a 4-3 win over the Oakland Athletics in the rubber match of a three-game set.

Casey Kotchman homered for the Angels, who trailed 3-1 entering the eighth but rallied to win for the third time in four games to enter the All-Star break at an AL-best 57-38, with a six-game lead over the A's in the AL West. Jose Arredondo (3-0) got the win for a scoreless inning of relief of starter Dustin Moseley, who let up four hits and two runs in 5 1/3 innings.

Huston Street (2-3) blew the save and took the loss for the second-place A's, who split their last four to take a 51-44 mark into the break. Justin Duchscherer gave up two runs on five hits in 7 2/3 innings to take a no- decision for Oakland.

Jack Cust homered for the A's, who were limited to six hits.

Kotchman's solo homer to right with two outs in the eighth pulled the Angels within 3-2, and then they played some small ball to take the lead in the ninth. Torii Hunter and Juan Rivera both singled to start the frame against Street, with Hunter heading to third on Rivera's hit.

Howie Kendrick's sacrifice fly to right plated Hunter to tie the game, then Ryan Budde bunted pinch-runner Reggie Willits over to second. Aybar chopped a grounder over Street, and the Angels shortstop beat out the throw from Donnie Murphy.

Willits never stopped running from second, and Daric Barton double-clutched before throwing home. Willits slid in safely with the go-ahead run.

"The first thing we're taught is if someone is not looking, don't throw," said Barton. "I saw Willits round third and when I went to throw, Kurt (Suzuki) was looking up the line. If I had thrown it the first time we would have had him. I know Willits is fast. I know he takes third on bunts."

Rodriguez made things interesting in the home half of the inning, however. Carlos Gonzalez singled to center to lead off the home half of the inning, and Mark Ellis drew a walk. Barton bunted the runners over, and Rodriguez intentionally walked Jack Hannahan to load the bases.

Pinch-hitter Rob Bowen fanned looking on a fastball on the outside corner, though, and Kurt Suzuki struck out swinging to end the threat. The save for Rodriguez was his 38th, extending his MLB record for the most before the All- Star break.

"It was bad luck and bad timing," said A's manager Bob Geren of the top of the ninth. "That was a strange inning, a swinging bunt, a bloop single and a strange play to the shortstop."

RBI singles by Emil Brown and Carlos Gonzalez put the A's on top 2-0 in the first. With the bases loaded and one out in the fourth, the Angels scored one run on a Kendrick fielder's choice grounder, and Duchscherer fanned Jeff Mathis to keep the lead at 2-1.

Game Notes

The Angels improved to an MLB-best 36-19 in games decided by two runs or less with their 19th come from behind win...Duchscherer had a career-high 18-inning scoreless streak end when Kendrick's fielder's choice grounder scored Vladimir Guerrero in the fourth. He still has not allowed more than three earned runs in 19 starts with the A's, matching a club record done four times, the last by Ken Holtzman in 1974-75.