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. http://www.jetsrookiestore.com/Jets-Joe-Namath-Jersey/ . Instead of dwelling on the negative, Oates focused on what was good about the clubs recent play. It worked. http://www.jetsrookiestore.com/Jets-Austin-Seferian-Jenkins-Jersey/ . Malkin got tangled up with Detroits Luke Glendening early in the third period and his left skate took the brunt of collision with the boards behind Pittsburghs net. http://www.jetsrookiestore.com/Hats/ . Ryan Garbutt had a goal and two assists as Dallas snapped a six-game losing streak with a 5-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night. http://www.jetsrookiestore.com/Jets-Brent-Qvale-Jersey/ . -- If this was Aaron Gordons final home game at Arizona, and it almost certainly was, then he went out in style. http://www.jetsrookiestore.com/Jets-Kony-Ealy-Jersey/ . "Thank you for the warm welcome," Beckham said on an 80-degree February morning. In this case, it was soccer weather. The sport moved a step closer to returning to South Florida on Wednesday, when Beckham confirmed he has exercised his option to purchase a Major League Soccer expansion franchise in Miami. PHOENIX -- Brandon Drury came out of high school thinking he might help the Atlanta Braves win games one day. He did just the opposite Wednesday night.Drury drove in Jake Lamb with a sacrifice fly in the 11th inning, giving the Arizona Diamondbacks a 10-9 win over the Braves.The Diamondbacks loaded the bases with a double, a hit batter and an intentional walk against reliever Jose Ramirez (2-1). Matt Kemp dived to catch Drurys sinking liner to left but couldnt get off a good throw to stop Lamb.Drury was a 13th round pick by the Braves in 2010 and traded to Arizona in 2013 in a package for Justin Upton.I was just looking for a fastball. They said his slider was pretty small, and I just trusted that I would pick it up. I didnt hit it that hard, but I go the job done and helped the team win, Drury said.The Braves rallied from a 9-4 deficit in the eighth to tie it 9-9 with four runs in the ninth. Adonis Garcia led off the ninth with a home run and the next five Braves reached base.Atlanta stranded runners on second and third, though, and the game went to extras. They also loaded the bases in the 10th.Former starter Patrick Corbin (5-13) pitched two scoreless innings in relief to earn the win.Diamondbacks ace Zack Greinke struck out five and reached 2,000 for his career. Greinke pitched six innings and allowed four runs, six hits and three walks in his first home start since June 28. He left that outing with a strained left oblique and went on the disabled list for more than a month.Greinke, 32, became the 78th pitcher to reach 2,000 strikeouts, fanning Freddie Freeman to start the fourth for the milestone.I dont really think about it at the moment. It is a pretty big number, Greinke said. It was a good pitch. I stopped making good pitches after that one pretty much.For the Diamondbacks, Welington Castillo drove in three runs with a double and a two-run single. Paul Goldschmidt and Lamb hit two-run home runs and Jean Seguras solo home run in the fifth was his 12th of the season, tying his season high from 2013.Goldschmidt became the third first baseman since 1974 to record 20 doubles, 20 homers and 20 stolen bases in consecutive seasons, along with Jeff Bagwell in 1996-97 and Ryan Klesko in 2000-01.Seguras homer landed just to the left of the 413-foot sign in left-center field. Lambs was his 25th of the season. Michael Bourn tripled twice as part of a four-hit night and gave Arizona 50 triples this season, a franchise record.Bourn and Goldschmidt combined to score six of the Diamondbacks runs. The two teeams combined for 32 hits.ddddddddddddEnder Inciarte had four hits for the Braves and Nick Markakis and Tyler Flowers each had three. Julio Teheran (3-10) pitched six innings, allowing six runs and 11 hits with four strikeouts. Atlanta has lost nine of 11 games.We had a legit chance to win against one of the better pitchers in baseball, and its a tough one to lose, Braves interim manager Brian Snitker said. It was right there in front of us, it felt like, coming back like we did in the ninth. But we werent able to pull it off.BRAVES DEAL FRANCOEURAtlanta completed a three-team trade involving the Texas Rangers and Miami Marlins, with the Braves sending veteran outfielder Jeff Francoeur to the Marlins.Francoeur was the only major leaguer involved and was dealt along with cash considerations. Atlanta acquired minor league shortstop Dylan Moore from Texas and minor league catcher Matt Foley from Miami.Francoeur hit .249 with seven home runs and 33 RBI in 99 games for the Braves. The 32-year-old plays left field and right field and is known for a strong arm. He was seen in the Braves dugout saying goodbye to coaches and teammates early in Wednesdays game.Snitker said infielder Brandon Snyder will be called up from Triple-A Gwinnett to be added to the roster in place of Francoeur.UMP STRUCKSecond base umpire Alfonso Marquez was hit on the right hip by Freemans line drive in the seventh. He stayed in the game after walking it off.TRAINERS ROOMBraves: Atlanta was expected to place pitcher Rob Whalen on the disabled list with right shoulder fatigue, but he was active Wednesday and grounded into a fielders choice to end the top of the 10th as a pinch-hitter. He was put on the DL after the game.Diamondbacks: OF Yasmany Tomas was held out due to back stiffness, a night after being taken out of the game in the eighth inning with the injury. He was on deck during Drurys sac fly. ... OF A.J. Pollocks season debut with Arizona is set for Friday. Hes back from a fractured right elbow and played in his 11th rehab game Tuesday night.UP NEXTBraves: RHP Matt Wisler was recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett to start Thursdays game against Arizona. Wisler is 4-11 in 20 starts for Atlanta this season.Diamondbacks: LHP Robbie Ray is coming off a week in which he went 2-0 and struck out 18 to earn the NL Player of the Week honor, and brings a 7-11 overall mark to his start against Atlanta on Thursday. Camo China NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale Nike NFL Jerseys Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys Youth NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys 2019 Cheap Jerseys 2019 Wholesale Jerseys Free Shipping Wholesale Jerseys 2019 Cheap NFL T-shirts Disocunt Football Jerseys Jerseys NFL Cheap Cheap Jerseys From China Disocunt Football Jerseys Cheap Stitched Jerseys ' ' '