WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Connelly Early was racing through the Denver airport trying to catch a tight connection when he got the news he would make his first major league start Tuesday night against the Athletics. About 24 hours later, the 23-year-old lefty put his name in the Red Sox record books.

Early’s mad dash out west that included two flights, many phone calls and hours taking notes on how to approach the A’s lineup culminated in a historically strong MLB debut Tuesday night. The southpaw tied a Red Sox franchise record by striking out 11 batters in his first career game, and he needed just five (scoreless) innings to do so . For the second time in a couple weeks, a Sox pitcher who started the season more than one step away from the majors looked ultra-comfortable in his first t

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