Lester uses Soler power in Bay Area joy ride

OAKLAND — The funk that enveloped the Cubs through the end of June and early July continues to feel more like a distant memory, as does the A’s postseason run with Jon Lester just two seasons ago.

Lester, making his return to the Coliseum for the first time since spending two months with Oakland in 2014, allowed two runs over seven innings, and Jorge Soler hit a three-run homer as the Cubs pounded A’s starter Dillon Overton en route to a 7-2 win, their fifth straight.

Chicago is now 15-6 over its last 21 games, a swift reversal from its 5-15 record between June 29 and July 10, and own the Majors’ best record at 67-41.

The A’s, meanwhile, are 13 games below .500 (48-61), tying a season high for the sixth time.

Overton gave up seven runs on nine hits and was removed after three innings. His struggles with the long ball didn’t take long to resurface, either, as Dexter Fowler led off the game with a homer and Soler’s three-run shot came in the same inning as the Cubs staked Lester to a 4-0 lead.

It was more than enough for Lester, who retired 14 of the first 15 batters he faced before Brett Eibner homered to lead off a two-run sixth. The lefty struck out eight and improved to 12-4 with a 2.93 ERA.

Lester wasn’t the only former A’s player to make an impact. Addison Russell, drafted by Oakland 11th overall in 2012, reached base three times and turned in an impressive …

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