A’s Jump on Samardzija, Defeat Giants

SAN FRANCISCO — Jeff Samardzija set the side down in order four of the first five innings Monday night, which made the second inning all the more maddening. Samardzija gave up five runs in his second frame, and that was that.The Giants would never recover, losing 8-3 on a night when rookie Daniel Mengden flummoxed them. Mengden picked up his first career win. Samardzija, who won seven of his first 10 Giants starts, was left wondering how he can find the consistency to be that guy again. Supreme Court Strikes Down Texas Abortion Rules Samardzija finished with a 6.69 ERA in six June starts, but the stretch includes a dominant four-hit complete game in Tampa Bay. It's nights like those, and innings like the first, third, fourth and fifth on Monday that show Samardzija he's not fatigued or a mechanical mess. He said the issue is mental."You're in there making pitches," Samardzija said. "It's just about eliminating those mistakes that come back to haunt you." Earthquakes Condemn Derogatory Remark The big one was a two-strike slider in the second that Marcus Semien blasted for a three-run shot. Samardzija was kicking himself for missing over the heart of the plate."If anything,...