Oakland Athletics’ Daniel Mengden, left, and Bruce Maxwell celebrate after a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Friday, Sept. 15, 2017, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

By Matthew Harrington

The Oakland Athletics rotation has its holes, but still it’d be hard to believe that Daniel Mengden would turn in the best start of the season for the green and gold.

That’s just what happened Friday night, with the mustachioed hurler who sports that herky-jerky wind-up just as peculiar as his facial hair choice throwing a complete-game shutout on the road against the Philadelphia Phillies. Matt Olson and Matt Joyce had two-run homeruns to seal a 4-0 shutout for Mengden.

Mengden surrendered just two hits, baffling the Phillies bats to the tune of 7 strikeouts. He coaxed 15 ground outs to just 5 fly outs in a hitter-friendly Citizens Bank Park

Olson cracked a two run shot in the 1st of Phillies starter off Mark Leiter Jr. Joyce ripped his an inning later for a 4-0 lead after six outs. Leiter would finish 6 innings but pick up the loss.

Saturday Kendall Graveman takes the hill for the second game of the interleague series. He’ll be opposed by Ben Lively for Philadelphia.