by Jessica Kwong

photo from sfgate.com: Oakland A’s starter Dillon Overton pitches to the Los Angeles Angels in the second inning at Angels Stadium on Saturday night

 ANAHEIM In his major league debut on Saturday night, A’s left-hand pitcher Dillon Overton gave up two home runs in the first inning, but kept his composure and positioned Oakland for a 7-3 win and a chance to sweep the series at Angel Stadium.

 Continuing to pitch after the two home runs was “maybe the most impressive thing” about Overton, Athletics manager Bob Melvin said. “It speaks volumes about the character of the young man.”

 Oakland took a 2-0 lead over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the first inning when third baseman Danny Valencia hit a home run on a fly ball to center field and left fielder Coco Crisp scored.

 But at the bottom of the inning, Angels right fielder Kole Calhoun hit a home run on a fly ball to right field, and the club’s star Mike Trout hit a homer on a fly ball to left field to tie the game at 2-2. It was the third time this season the Angels have hit back-to-back homers – and the second time coming from Calhoun and Trout.

 Overton kept the homers in perspective. Trout, he said, has been an all-star for most of his career in the major leagues.

 “I was frustrated at the same time, because I let both of those pitches up, but I tried to come back from it and keep throwing strikes and keep hitters off balance,” said the pitcher who debuted after 53 minor league appearances.

 In the third inning, A’s center fielder Stephen Vogt got out on a sacrifice fly to Trout and Crisp scored, bringing Oakland up 3-2. A’s left fielder Khris Davis singled on a sharp line drive to left fielder Shane Robinson and Crisp scored again, bumping Oakland’s lead up to 4-2 in the fifth inning.

 At the bottom of the fifth, Overton threw to Angels designated hitter Albert Pujols who hit a home run, his 574th, to pass Harmon Killbrew for sole possession of 11th on the all-time list. The hit cut Oakland’s lead to 4-3.

 “Pujols – you have to give it to him, he hit that a long way,” Overton said. “First time out there, you kind of got to admire the distance of how far he hit it.”

 Overton left the mound after allowing three solo homers in 5 1/2 innings. He called it “awesome.”

 “You know, I got taken out, I was walking off the field. I was looking at the stands and my family. You know, it almost makes your eyes want to start watering a little bit,” Overton said. “It’s just a surreal feeling. It’s a dream come true. Not many people can get their first big league win in their first outing.”

 About 20 family members, mostly from his home in Oklahoma, watched from the lower deck.

 “They were the only ones standing, screaming and yelling when I was walking off, so I knew exactly who they were,” Overton chuckled, adding that even the parents and brother of his best friend from high school were there to support him.

 In the sixth inning, Crisp singled on a ground ball to Trout and shortstop Marcus Semien and first baseman Max Muncy scored to give Oakland a 6-3 lead. Valencia singled on a sharp ground ball to Angels third baseman Gregorio Petit, and Crisp scored again.

 “That’s the Coco we know and love,” Vogt said. “He’s a special baseball player – you never know. He could do that every day of his career and you wouldn’t be surprised.”

 The Angels tried to make a comeback in the ninth inning – and had the bases loaded – but fell to Oakland 7-3.

 Oakland’s third straight win showed off the club’s capabilities, Melvin said.

 “We’ve seen multiple times this year we can score a bunch of runs, hit the ball out of the ballpark and do a lot of good things defensively, and then we go stagnant for a period of time,” the manager said. “So to put together three good games in a row like this certainly confidence-wise, should be good for us.”

 The A’s have won four of the last five games but are 7-13 over the last 20 contests. They have the fourth worst record in the American League – but rank higher than the Angels, with the second worst record.

 First pitch for the fourth and last game in the series at Angel Stadium for the A’s and Angels 12:35 PM on Sunday