Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Connelly Early throws to an Athletics batter during the third inning of a baseball game as he makes his MLB Debut, Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall)
Boston Red Sox’s Rob Refsnyder celebrates with his teammates after hitting a three run home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Athletics, Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall)
Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Connelly Early reacts after the final out of the fourth inning of a baseball game as he makes his major league debut against the Athletics, Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall)
Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Connelly Early reacts after the final out of the third inning of a baseball game as he makes his MLB Debut against the Athletics, Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall)
Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Connelly Early throws to an Athletics batter during the fifth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall)
Early strikes out 11, tying Red Sox record for debut, Boston tops A’s 6-0 to close on Yankees
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Connelly Early struck out 11 to tie the Red Sox record for a major league debut, and Boston beat the Athletics 6-0 Tuesday night to close on the New York Yankees for the top AL wild card.
Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Connelly Early throws to an Athletics batter during the third inning of a baseball game as he makes his MLB Debut, Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall)
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Connelly Early struck out 11 to tie the Red Sox record for a major league debut, and Boston beat the Athletics 6-0 Tuesday night to close on the New York Yankees for the top AL wild card.
Early (1-0) matched Don Aase’s 11 strikeouts against Milwaukee on July 26, 1977. That was the career high for Aase, who pitched 447 more games in a 13-season career.
Boston (81-65) took a four-run lead before making an out, winning its third straight and moving within one percentage point of the Yankees (80-64).
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A 23-year-old left-hander selected in the fifth round of the 2023 amateur draft, Early (1-0) allowed five hits and walked one, throwing 61 of 90 pitches for strikes. He was the third Red Sox pitcher to debut in a start this season after Hunter Dobbins and Payton Tolle.
Romy González extended his hitting streak to 12 games with a leadoff homer. Alex Bregman and Trevor Story each singled and Rob Refsnyder hit a 463-foot homer off Jeffrey Springs (10-11), the longest this season for the Red Sox.
González had an RBI double in the second, then left before the bottom half because of Masataka Yoshida had an RBI groundout in the eighth.
After falling behind by five runs, Springs (10-11) retired 11 batters in a row. He allowed eight hits over five innings with six strikeouts.
Jacob Wilson had three hits and is batting .319, second in the major leagues to the .321 of the New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge. The A’s outhit Boston 10-9 but have been shut out for 15 straight innings.
Boston has won 10 of 13 road games and is 37-37 away from home this year.
Key moment
Early struck out the side in order in the second inning and struck out three in the fourth, stranding the bases loaded when he fanned Darell Hernaiz with a slider and Lawrence Butler on a sinker.
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Key stat
Refsnyder is hitting .302 with six homers and 22 RBIs in 125 plate appearances against left-handers.
Up next
Athletics RHP Mason Barnett (1-1, 9.00) faces Red Sox LHP Payton Tolle (0-1, 7.56) in Wednesday’s series finale.
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