WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Boston Red Sox left-hander Connelly Early struck out 11 in five shutout innings against the Athletics on Tuesday night in his MLB debut.

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 and a walk, 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 innings. He tied the Red Sox record for strikeouts in a first big league start, matching the mark of Don Aase in July 1977.

The Red Sox beat the Athletics 6-0.

Early was selected in the fifth round of the 2023 amateur draft and

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