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HOUSTON -- Oakland Athletics rookie right-hander Daniel Mengden, a Houston native drafted by his hometown franchise, will get an opportunity to show the Astros what theyre missing Friday at Minute Maid Park.Mengden (1-4, 3.48 ERA) will make his first career start against the organization that selected him in the fourth round of the 2014 draft. Mengden was packaged along with catcher Jacob Nottingham in the deal that sent veteran left-hander Scott Kazmir to Houston on July 23, 2015.Selected from Triple-A Nashville on June 11, Mengden will make his sixth start of the career. His 31 strikeouts are tied for second in franchise history (since 1913) for the most by a pitcher over his first five appearances (Tim Hudson, 33 in 1999). Mengden, a product of nearby Texas A&M, began the season at Double-A Midland and finished 2-0 with a 0.78 ERA before his promotion to Nashville on May 1.With the Sounds, Mengden went 3-1 with a 1.39 ERA in seven starts. His ERA was the sixth-lowest in the minors at the time of his promotion.And while Mengden will get the first crack at helping Oakland (37-49) make it two in a row over the Astros following the Athletics 3-1 win on Friday night, the Oakland bullpen will also play a key role.Right-handers John Axford, Ryan Dull and Ryan Madson combined to work three perfect innings in the series opener, with Axford first relieving lefty Ken Hill and notching two strikeouts in the seventh inning. Axford had struggled of late, blowing two saves while posting an 18.00 ERA over his last six appearances.That was great to see, Athletics manager Bob Melvin. Weve seen now how effective he can be. Hes gone through a little bit of a tough stretch, obviously. I think looking at his history hes had some stretches through the course of the season where he hasnt been as effective and he works hard to get through it, but I think this was a big game for him to pitch in a close game like that, get a 1-2-3 inning. He looked good.Right-hander Collin McHugh (5-6, 4.50 ERA) will make his 18th start of the season for the Astros. He allowed four runs on five hits and two walks in 5 1/3 innings in his lone appearance against the Athletics this season but did not factor in the decision. McHugh is 4-1 with a 3.23 ERA in his career against the Athletics, a mark that includes six starts.While the Astros (46-40) will get an opportunity to improve to 12 games over .500 against right-handed starters, they fell to 11-16 against southpaw starters, a surprising record given the right-handed presence of George Springer, Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa in their lineup.We can certainly hit left-handed pitching, Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. Weve got guys who can do it. Weve got a few guys hitting under their career norms, and thats never good. Halfway through the season, I dont think we can declare that we cant hit lefties. I think weve got some left-handed pitchers we arent racing up to the batters box to face. But clearly, its been a touch of a struggle for us against that side. Kyle Nelson Jersey . Manuel was offered a position the day he was fired. He accepted earlier this week and the team made the announcement Friday. Lamar McHan Jersey . Rob Manfred, baseballs chief operating officer, testified last week during the grievance filed by the players union to overturn Rodriguezs 211-game suspension. A person familiar with the hearing, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Associated Press on Saturday that Manfred testified the sport wasnt concerned whether Bosch distributed performance-enhancing drugs to minors because MLBs interest was his relationship with players under investigation. http://www.custom49ersjersey.com/ . Aaron Harrison scored a 22 points for Kentucky (6-1), which has won four in a row following a Nov. 12 loss to current No. 1 Michigan State. Julius Randle overcame a scoreless first half and added his sixth double-double in as many games with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Jimmie Ward Jersey . Each of Houstons starters scored in double figures as the Rockets improved to 2-0 against the Spurs this season, with both victories coming on the road. They also moved within 3 1/2 games of San Antonio (22-7) for the lead the Southwest Division. Dave Wilcox Jersey . -- Josh Sterk scored once and set up two more as the Oshawa Generals edged the visiting Belleville Bulls 3-2 on Friday in Ontario Hockey League action. CHICAGO -- If the Miami Marlins hope to return to the postseason this year for the first time in more than a decade, a wild series finale against the Chicago Cubs could be a good teaching tool.Matt Szczur scored the winning run on A.J. Ramos wild pitch in the bottom of the ninth inning Wednesday, capping a three-run rally that gave the Cubs a 5-4 victory and a three-game sweep.Chicago tied it when Ramos (1-1) walked Ben Zobrist with the bases loaded and two outs.I didnt have command over anything. Fastball was flying out, changeup was out of the zone, slider was hit-and-miss. It was pretty rough, Ramos said after his second blown save in 33 chances this season.The comeback gave the season series to the Cubs, but Miami manager Don Mattingly hopes his club bounces back quickly.These are no fun, he said, but I think theyre part of what were becoming and are going to be something to handle and learn from and move on from.Its painful, but its still a game, he added.Jeff Mathis hit a two-run homer for Miami. Christian Yelich also connected and drove in two runs. Tom Koehler tossed six strong innings to help the Marlins take a 4-1 lead heading into the bottom of the eighth.Chicago cut it to 4-2 when Dexter Fowler scored on Fernando Rodneys wild pitch.Miguel Montero started the decisive rally with a leadoff double in the ninth and went to third on a single by Javier Baez. Szczur was pinch-hitting when he drew a walk from Ramos that loaded the bases. Fowler made it 3-2 with a sacrifice fly, and all the runners advanced.Kris Bryant struck out looking on a 3-2 pitch for the second out, and Anthony Rizzo was intentionally walked to load the bases again. The strategy backfired when Ramos, who threw just 13 strikes in 35 pitches, walked Zobrist and then unloaded a game-ending wild pitch with Willlson Contreras at the plate.ddddddddddddMy job was to get Zobrist out there and I just didnt execute, Ramos said. I was trying to go for the strikeout or get some weak contact. But I couldnt get it in the zone where I wanted to.It was just one of those days, I guess.Mathis drive snapped a 1-all tie in the seventh and was just the second of the season for the backup catcher.Justin Grimm (1-0) pitched the ninth inning for the win. Chicago has won seven of eight.Cubs manager Joe Maddon also credited those among the Wrigley Field crowd of 41,147 who stayed until the end.They had so much energy, he said. It was a long day and it was hot out there and we have to get on the road. All those different mental factors, and our fans picked us up.Koehler gave up five hits and one run while striking out seven.Cubs starter John Lackey allowed seven hits and three runs in seven innings while striking out eight.I think weve got a good group, Lackey said. A group that keeps fighting.FRIENDLY CONFINESYelich, who was 3 for 4, has hit safely in all 12 career games he has played at Wrigley Field. He is 21 for 51 in those games for a .412 batting average.ICHIRO UPDATEIchiro Suzuki lined out softly to shortstop as a pinch-hitter in the seventh against Lackey. Suzuki remained at 2,998 career hits, two shy of becoming the 30th player to reach 3,000.TRAINERS ROOMMarlins 1B Justin Bour, out since July 3 with a right ankle sprain, is expected to return Friday at Colorado.UP NEXTFollowing a day off, Marlins RHP David Phelps (5-5, 2.65 ERA) makes his first start of the season Friday in the opener of a three-game series at Colorado. LHP Jorge De La Rosa (7-7, 5.51) goes for the Rockies. ' ' '