Published in the July 23, 2015 edition

By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI

NORTH READING — The North Reading A’s lost to the visiting Kingston Night Owls, 5-3, on Monday night at North Reading High School in North Shore Baseball League action. With that defeat, the A’s record fell to 6-15-1 while the Owls improved to 14-4.

Trailing, 3-1, the visitors scored single runs in the fifth and sixth innings to tie it. Kingston then scored twice in the top of the seventh.

“We hit the ball well,” said A’s player-manager Joe Dardeno, whose team had six hits. “They have given up the least amount of runs in the league this season.”

The A’s, who were playing their final home game of the regular season, scored all three of their runs in the bottom of the third. Jon Gravallese had a two-run single in that frame.

Andrew Lessard was the losing pitcher in relief of starter Anthony Lupi, who went 5 1/3 innings.

The A’s had four errors in that game.

Catches Marlins

The news was better on Sunday afternoon, the A’s edged the Manchester Marlins, 3-2, also at home.

Trailing, 2-1, the A’s plated two runs in the bottom of the sixth to take the lead. Gravallese drew a bases loaded walk while Anthony Capuano, who leads the team in average at .420, had a pair of hits.

Mike Banda (1-0) got the win in relief going 2 2/3 innings.

“He tore his labrum, so he doesn’t pitch much but his knuckleball was effective,” pointed out Dardeno, who was also pleased with the effort of emergency starter, Adam Halley, who went over four innings before allowing a hit.

Upcoming games

On Saturday morning at 11 a.m., the A’s visit the North Shore Phillies at Breed Field in Lynn. Next Monday night at 7:45, the A’s finish the regular season against the Peabody Champions at Twi-Field in Danvers.

The playoffs will start the first week in August. The A’s, with their loss to Kingston, were in seventh place. The top eight teams qualify.