WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Instant reactions as Connelly Early’s phenomenal major league debut helps the Red Sox shut out the Athletics for the second straight night, this time by a 6-0 score at Sutter Health Park:

1) Early’s debut exceeded even the highest of expectations in his first big league game. He was dominant from the start, when he punctuated a 1-2-3 first inning with a strikeout of rookie sensation Nick Kurtz.

Early gave the Red Sox five innings and tied a franchise record for most strikeouts in a big league debut with 11. He was tagged for five hits and walked a single batter, throwing 90 pitches. Early retired the first eight batters he faced.

The last Red Sox pitcher to have that many strikeouts in a big league debut Don Aase in 1977. It also was a season-high for Early,

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