The Athletics were ill-prepared to meet Connelly Early last week. Over five shutout innings in his major league debut, the 23-year-old left-hander fanned 11 of their batters, tying the Red Sox record for strikeouts by a debuting pitcher, set by Don Aase on July 26, 1977.

The A’s had the unfortunate distinction of being the opposition for Early’s Fenway Park debut Tuesday night, too. Despite the previous week’s experience, they barely fared better in the rematch.

Fortunately for them, the Red Sox fared worse. They lost 2-1 in a game in which they collected eight hits, five walks, and only struck out four times, because they went 0 for 7 with runners in scoring position and left nine men on base.

Over 5.1 innings, Early yielded one earned run on five hits, struck out seven, and issued zer

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