OAKLAND — Paul Blackburn said he tossed and turned in bed most of Friday night in anticipation of his first major league start.
Then he went out Saturday afternoon and delivered an outing that was the picture of poise in the A’s 4-3 loss to Atlanta. The 23-year-old right-hander from Brentwood limited the Braves to three hits and one unearned run over six innings, earning a standing ovation as he left the mound for the final time from a Coliseum crowd that was packed with family and friends.
“I couldn’t even put it in words, honestly,” Blackburn said afterward.