SEATTLE -Paul Blackburn pitched so well in his big-league debut, the right-hander from Brentwood got another start Thursday at Safeco Field.
He might never leave the rotation at this rate: Blackburn turned in another super outing to help Oakland beat the Mariners 7-4, earning Blackburn his first big-league victory and Bob Melvin his 500th win as manager of the A’s.
Blackburn went 6 2/3 innings and allowed eight hits, but he got double-play balls in the first and second (the latter by Danny Valencia, who the A’s traded to Seattle in November to acquire Blackburn) and he picked off Jean Segura in the fourth.