Joyce now hitting lefties

HOUSTON — Matt Joyce started the season in a dreadful funk, batting .193 as late as June 9.

Since then, he has lifted his average 43 points, and he’s starting to get regular at-bats even against left-handers — especially after delivering a three-run double off lefty Mike Minor in Oakland’s comeback win over the Royals on Tuesday.

On Friday at Houston, Joyce was the lone left-handed hitter in Oakland’s lineup against lefty Dallas Keuchel.

“He’s taking advantage of the opportunity,” manager Bob Melvin said. “You look at his swing and the way he goes about his business, tracking the baseball, you would think he could have success against left-handed pitching. This is probably the first extended opportunity he’s had against left-handers, and he’s gotten some big hits for us, too.”

Over Joyce’s first 102 games, Joyce had zero RBIs against left-handed pitchers. Entering Friday, he’d recorded five RBIs in four games against lefthanders, including a homer off Baltimore’s Richard Bleier on Sunday — Joyce’s first home run off a left-hander since June 4, 2016.

Joyce recorded Oakland’s first hit off Keuchel, a bunt single in the third, one of only three the A’s managed against Keuchel. Joyce also walked and then homered in the eighth off Chris Devenski. Joyce has five homers and 12 RBIs over the past 12 games, and he’s batting .317 this month.

Briefly: Catcher Josh Phegley (oblique) was 2-for-7 with a walk and three strikeouts in his first two rehab appearances with Triple-A Nashville. “He’s going to play multiple games,” Melvin said. “It’s not like it’s a speed-up process to get him back here.” The A’s have been happy with Dustin Garneau, acquired on waivers this month; it’s likely that Phegley won’t return until rosters expand in September. ... Right-hander Zach Neal, designated for assignment Wednesday, cleared waivers and was outrighted to Nashville . ... Home-plate umpire Jerry Layne left the game in the seventh inning when he was struck on the left wrist by a foul ball; the Astros announced later that Layne has a bruise.