BY PAUL GACKLE

OAKLAND — The Jon Lester trade drew immediate skepticism and criticism of the Jeff Samardzija deal is sure to gain momentum in the wake of the A’s 8-5 loss to the New York Mets at the O.co Coliseum on Wednesday.

Samardzija surrendered seven earned runs to the Mets over 3 2/3 innings as the A’s dropped their sixth game in seven outings.

Despite the trades for Lester and Samardzija, the A’s trailed the Los Angeles Angels by a full game as their AL West rivals took the field in Boston on Wednesday night.

“It was a big game today and I didn’t do my part, so it stings,” Samardzija said.

The A’s struggles at the plate minus Cespedes have been well documented, but now the team’s starting pitching is struggling, too. The rotation is 2-7 with a 5.54 ERA over its last nine starts.

The rotation’s woes are concerning because the A’s gave up Cespedes and top prospect, Addison Russell, in hopes of boasting the most potent staff in baseball.

But Jason Hammel, acquired from the Chicago Cubs in the Russell deal, is 1-5 with a 6.75 ERA in seven starts with the A’s while Samardzija is 3-3 with a 4.34 ERA in nine starts with the club.

Samardzija pitched well in his first month with the team, becoming the first A’s pitcher since Jesse Flores in 1943 to toss seven or more innings in each of his first four starts with the club. In recent weeks, though, he’s struggled, surrendering 18 earned runs over his last five starts.

Despite his recent struggles, Manager Bob Melvin said the A’s are confident in Samardzija’s ability.

“He’s pitched some really good games for us,” Melvin said. “Today was really the one tough game that he’s had overall as far as his numbers go, so it’s kind of a short sample what he’s done for us. But he’s a killer. He wants to be out there, he wants the ball and we’re confident when he takes the mound.

After retiring the first six batters, Samardzija gave up five earned runs in the third — a solo home run to Eric Campbell and then four two out runs, including a three-run shot to Lucas Duda.

The trouble started when Curtis Granderson poked a two out single to left field with the shift on and Daniel Murphy reached base with a single of his own. After David Wright walked, Granderson scored on a wild pitch from Samardzija and Duda supplied the fireworks with a three-run shot to center.

The A’s battled back with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning, but the Mets tagged Samardzija for two more runs in the top of the fourth, regaining a five-run lead.

With the Angels coming to town for a three-game set over the weekend, Melvin said the A’s need to move past the loss.

“We have an off day tomorrow to clear our heads and we know it will be an exciting series and a big series,” he said.