Astros pound Mengden, topple A’s

OAKLAND — Daniel Mengden was a member of the Houston Astros for a only a short period of time, but they continue to own the right-hander to this day.

Entering the night 0-4 with a 6.23 ERA in six career starts against the club that originally drafted him in 2014, those numbers only got worse as Mengden’s struggles against the Astros continued in Tuesday’s 6-3 loss.

Mengden was roughed up for six runs on eight hits and four walks with one strikeout as he lasted just 4 2/3 innings before Oakland A’s manager Bob Melvin had seen enough and went to the bullpen.

A quick seven-pitch first inning by Mengden was followed by a nightmarish second that saw him surrender a solo home run to Carlos Correa and a three-run homer to Evan Gattis just a few batters later to give the Astros (43-25) a three-run lead.

After a tremendous month of May that saw Mengden go 4-1 with a 1.51 ERA and allow only four home runs in six starts, his two home runs allowed Tuesday it six home runs now allowed in just two starts this month. His four walks allowed were also a season-high.

For all the excitement there is about the young and promising A’s roster, Tuesday continued to show they’re still a class below the elite teams that exist even

within just their own division.

The A’s fell to 1-6 on the season against the Astros this season and have now been outscored by Houston 50-18 in

seven games. Their overall struggles against the AL West have been crucial as the A’s (3433) are just 10-22 within the division and 24-11 against the rest of baseball.

Matt Chapman tied an A’s single-game record for doubles with three in his first three atbats

against Lance McCullers Jr. His shot at a fourth was denied in the eighth inning as he was hit on his left hand by a fastball from Collin McHugh. Melvin and the training staff came out to check on Chapman, but he was allowed to play for the rest of the game.

Mark Canha singled home Jed Lowrie in the eighth to cut the deficit to three runs, but the A’s were unable to find that big hit, stranding the bases loaded twice as they went 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position and left a total of nine runners on base on the night.