Astros clobber A’s 11-0

HOUSTON - The A’s basked in Sean Manaea’s no-hitter a week early, then Saturday they watched Lance McCullers Jr. try to do the same to them.

McCullers, just the second right-hander pitcher Oakland has faced in the past eight games, retired the first 15 men in a row, and the defending champion Astros pummeled the A’s 11-0 victory at Minute Maid Park. Oakland recorded just three hits while being shut out for the second time this season.

A’s starter Daniel Mengden, making his second career start in his hometown against the team that drafted him, continued to have difficulties with the Astros, and right from the get-go Saturday. Houston loaded the bases in the first, Yuli Gurriel and Josh Reddick…