Daniel Mengden is back at the Coliseum this weekend, wearing different colors but still sporting the amazing mustache.
Mengden, who pitched for the Oakland Athletics from 2016 to 2020, was called up Monday by the Kansas City Royals, just in time for their weeklong visit to the Bay Area, three games at Oracle Park and three at the Coliseum.
“The A’s gave me my first outing, my first start, they rode me for five years and kind of helped me develop into the pitcher I am today, so I appreciate everything they did for me,” Mengden said. “Now we’re continuing on in a different jersey, and we’re back here again in the beautiful Coliseum. Never forget all the memories we had here.”
Mengden, 29, spent last season in Korea pitching for the Kia Tigers, where the handlebar mustache was a big hit — “they like the extra flair” — and signed with the Royals in March. He waxes the mustache only for starts but so far is working out of the K.C. bullpen.
Asked about his best memories with the A’s, Mengden didn’t list any of his own accomplishments, including his May 26, 2018, shutout of the Diamondbacks, and instead shouted out his teammates.
“All the walk-off homers from multiple guys,” Mengden said, “some of the plays (Matt) Chapman made, the plays (Matt) Olson made, (Chad) Pinder running through walls for everybody, the (Sean) Manaea no-hitter was a great one. Just too many memories, just a special group of guys, just a really fun time.”
Mengden is close with A’s starter Paul Blackburn, who’s enjoying a career year. Blackburn drove Mengden to Friday’s series opener and was to host him for dinner Saturday night.
“We struggled together, had success together,” Mengden said. “We became friends over the years playing together. I knew what Paul Blackburn was capable of. He has great stuff. I’ve seen him be unbelievable, and I’m happy he’s finally getting an opportunity to go out every five days for them and get a chance to show who he is.”
Davidson reaction: A day after third baseman Matt Davidson had a rough overall game — 0-for-2 with two strikeouts, an error on a grounder and a botched popup — he made no excuses for his play.
“It sucked, for sure. You hate doing that, especially being a new guy on a team,” said Davidson, who made his A’s debut on the last trip, having been called up from Triple-A Las Vegas. “I’m pretty pissed at myself. That’s how baseball is. You play every day, and sometimes you suck and sometimes you’re really good.”
On the popup that fell between him and shortstop Elvis Andrus, Davidson said, “That was just me not being aggressive, just a bad play by me, and I take full ownership on that. Just need to stay with it and catch it.”
Manager Mark Kotsay said with any player coming off a bad game, “You don’t want to have any rear-view mirror. That mind-set helps guys at this level process and move forward.
“Every player’s going to have bad nights,” Kotsay said. “You don’t lose confidence (in a player) based on one performance. For guys that go out every single day, they’re not going to be perfect, and we understand that. It’s the opposite side that you get frustrated with, when there’s a lack of effort.”
John Shea is The San Francisco Chronicle’s national baseball writer. Email: jshea@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JohnSheaHey
