Mengden dominates Rays to help A’s avoid four-game sweep

OAKLAND (AP) — Daniel Mengden allowed three runs over eight innings and the Oakland Athletics beat the Tampa Bay Rays 7-3 on Thursday to avoid a four-game sweep.

Matt Olson, Matt Chapman and Matt Joyce all homered, providing some much-needed punch to an offense that had sputtered since their leading home run hitter Khris Davis went on the disabled list 10 days earlier.

Davis was activated before the game and doubled and scored as part of a three-run second inning to help Oakland end a three-game losing streak.

Joey Wendle had three hits for Tampa Bay.

A’s shortstop Chad Pinder preserved the win when he made an overthe-shoulder catch on Johnny Field’s pop-up in the ninth.

The ball bounced out of Pinder’s glove, but he caught it bare-handed for the final out.

The Rays had won five straight and outscored the A’s 11-3 through the first three games of the series before getting shut down by Mengden.

Coming off his second career shutout, Mengden (6-4) was dominant most of the game against Tampa Bay.

He gave up six hits, struck out five and extended his scoreless streak to a career-high 25 innings before giving up three straight hits, including a two-run double by Wilson Ramos in the ninth.

It’s the longest scoreless streak by any A’s pitcher since former closer Sean Doolittle went 26 1/3 innings in 2014. Mengden’s run is also the best by an Oakland starting pitcher since Cory Lidle’s 32-inning streak in 2002.

Josh Lucas replaced Mengden and retired two hitters. Blake Treinen got Field to pop out to shortstop for his 13th save.

Olson and Chapman hit solo home runs in the seventh off Ryan Yarbrough. Joyce added a two-run shot in the eighth off Vidal Nuno.

Ryne Stanek (1-1) started for Tampa Bay and retired four batters in his second major league start. Stanek earned his first career win Monday in relief.