The Boston Red Sox may have just discovered their postseason X-factor. On Tuesday night at Fenway Park, 23-year-old Connelly Early delivered a historic MLB debut , dominating the Athletics and tying the Red Sox franchise record with 11 strikeouts across five scoreless innings in a 6-0 shutout win in West Sacramento.

Making his debut under the lights, Early carved through the Athletics lineup with a lethal three-pitch mix. His fastball sat in the mid-90s, and his changeup became the primary put away pitch, accounting for seven of his strikeouts. According to The Boston Globe’s Tim Healy, the outing officially stamped the southpaw's name into the team’s record books.

“Connelly Early has tied Don Aase for the Red Sox record for strikeouts in his major league debut: 11.” Article Conti

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