OAKLAND -- The A's have badly needed more from their starting pitchers. More innings, more efficiency. And better results.
Right-hander Daniel Mengden gave them just that Monday night, twirling an eight-plus inning gem against the White Sox in an 8-1 series-opening victory at the Coliseum to give the A's back-to-back wins for the first time this season.
Mengden carried a shutout into the ninth inning, but the first batter, Jose Abreu, sent his 106th pitch over the center-field wall to force him out of the game.