Virgin Islands Jharel L. Cotton had an impressive debut in Major League Baseball, helping Oakland Athletics to a 4-1 win over Los Angeles Angels. Photo: Provided

The 24-year-old right-hander Jharel L. Cotton looked poised from the moment he stepped on the rubber in the first and impressed with four pitches, dazzling with his changeup, showing strong command of his fastball and mixing in some solid curveballs and sliders. Photo: Provided

The 24-year-old right-hander (1-0) looked poised from the moment he stepped on the rubber in the first. Cotton impressed with four pitches, dazzling with his changeup, showing strong command of his fastball and mixing in some solid curveballs and sliders.

C.J. Cron homered on a 3-2 pitch leading off the seventh with a drive that tipped off the glove of center fielder Brett Eibner, someone manager Bob Melvin wanted to evaluate at the position.

Eibner hit an RBI double and Yonder Alonso and Max Muncy added run-scoring singles to back Cotton.

After catcher Stephen Vogt offered an embrace and teammates followed, Cotton jogged off the mound in the seventh and stopped to tip his cap for the sparse crowd on an unseasonably warm September afternoon.

Cotton, who became the fourth pitcher in big league history born in the Virgin Islands, allowed one run and two hits over 6 1/3 innings, striking out three and walking two in a 102-pitch performance. He came to the A's from the Dodgers at the trade deadline in a deal that sent Josh Reddick to Los Angeles. He nearly tossed a one-hitter in his second start for Triple-A Nashville on Aug. 4, giving the Oakland front office a preview of his potential at the next level.

Ryan Madson, Oakland's third reliever, finished for his 29th save.

Alex Meyer (0-2) struck out five but walked four in 3 1/3 innings, allowing one run on one hit.

Cotton was the second A's starter to make his major league debut in three days, following Raul Alcantara's struggle on Monday.

It also marked the second time in Oakland history the A's had five starters make their major league debuts in one season, also in 1978. Using the 27th pitcher of the season, the A's matched the second-most to appear in a year -- also 1977 and 2009 -- behind 30 in 2015.