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OAKLAND — A’s rookie catcher Sean Murphy said before his major league debut on Wednesday night that he wasn’t as nervous as he thought he’d be.
Much more of this and it will be American League pitchers getting nervous.
Murphy, the highest-rated position player in the A’s system, turned on a 95 mph fastball from Angels right-handed reliever Jake Jewell in the fifth inning and sent it 409 feet over the right-center field fence at the Coliseum.
The ball left the park with an exit velocity of 105.8 mph, but in Murphy’s second at-bat in the majors this was quite an entrance.
Just 12,597 fans were on hand to see Murphy’s memorable debut in a 4-0 victory over the Angels.
The A’s hit three home runs, also getting a solo home run in the second inning by Jurickson Profar, his 19th of the season, and a two-run shot in the fifth by Marcus Semien, No. 26.
The A’s (80-58) remained in a tie with Cleveland for the second wild-card spot, one-half game behind Tampa Bay.
A’s right-hander Tanner Roark pitched shutout ball through through 6 2/3 innings, allowing just five hits before being lifted for Yusmeiro Petit.
Roark (9-8), acquired by the A’s from Cincinnati on July 31, has allowed two earned runs or fewer in five of his six starts with Oakland. He is now 3-1 for the A’s.
A’s pitchers benefited from some nice defense, including two tough catches in left field by Profar, who typically plays second base, and a make-it-look easy back-handed play at third by Matt Chapman.
