Athletics’ celebratory homestand concludes with loss to Indians

OAKLAND — The Athletics concluded one of the most eventful homestands in recent memory on a down note Sunday, losing 5-3 to the Cleveland Indians at the Coliseum before a Mother’s Day crowd of 18,891.

Daniel Mengden (0-1), in his first game since being recalled from Triple A Las Vegas, left with the score tied, one out and two on in the sixth inning but ended up the losing pitcher when Ryan Buchter surrendered a three-run home run to Roberto Perez.

Jefry Rodriguez (1-2) gave up three runs in six innings for the Indians before departing in favor of Adam Cimber, Nick Wittgren and Brad Hand.

The Athletics fell to 19-23, with the Indians improving to 21-18.

In their four wins on the homestand, the A’s had a no-hitter by Mike Fiers and three walk-off wins — all with raucous on-field celebrations.

The Athletics got within 5-3 in the sixth inning on a solo home run to right by Matt Olson, his first of the season after missing 34 games following surgery on his right hand to remove the the hamate bone. Olson came up in the eighth inning with Khris Davis aboard and two outs but struck out against Wittgren.

Mengden departed after 5 1/3 innings, having given up five hits, four earned runs with four walks, four strikeouts and having thrown 100 pitches.

Athletics manager Bob Melvin sent Mengden out for the sixth, and after Carlos Santana flied to right, Carlos Gonzalez and Jordan Luplow had consecutive singles. That brought on Buchter, who got Jake Bouers to line out to second before Perez hit a first-pitch three-run home run to left center to give the Indians a 5-2 lead.

The Athletics tied the score 2-2 in the third inning against Rodriguez on a pair of two-out run-scoring singles, the first by Jurickson Profar and the second by Stephen PIscotty.

Mengden’s rough first inning started with a single to right by Francisco Lindor and a walk to Mike Freeman. Santana then doubled off the right field fence, with Piscotty nearly catching the ball, to drive in Lindor. Luplow brought home the second run with a sacrifice fly.

In the second inning, Mengden was still struggling to find himself but caught a break when Leonys Martin attempted a two-out steal of third and was thrown out by catcher Josh Phegley to end the inning.