WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Red Sox left-hander Connelly Early struck out 11 in five shutout innings Tuesday night, winning his major league debut as Boston toppled the Athletics , 6-0.

Early was called up from Triple-A Worcester earlier in the day and got the start after Dustin May was placed on the injured list with elbow issues.

The 23-year-old Early, who allowed five hits, struck out Athletics slugger Nick Kurtz in the first inning for his first big league K. He struck out the side in the second and fourth innings and recorded two strikeouts in the third and fifth.

The 11 strikeouts were tied for the most in a big league debut in Red Sox history (Don Aase in 1977). Early also became the fifth pitcher since 2000 with 10 Ks and no runs allowed in an MLB debut, joining Freddy

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