Actually, the A's general manager must be beaming -- and not just because his team got a 9-2 series-opening victory over the division-rival Angels at McAfee Coliseum on Friday.

It was how the A's managed such a one-sided victory that left Beane and the 31,372 in attendance with a larger-than-life grin on their faces.

Oakland entered the game with two fresh faces on the field -- starting pitcher Sean Gallagher and left fielder Matt Murton, both part of Tuesday's six-player deal with the Cubs that sent Rich Harden and Chad Gaudin away.

Forget the first day of school-type nerves. Gallagher proved he can get a win just as easily as Harden in the A's rotation by pitching seven dominant innings of two-hit, two-run ball. If that wasn't enough to leave fans slightly more confident in Beane's recent transaction, Murton sealed the deal by making two repeat-worthy plays in left field and providing the A's with a two-run single in a six-run third inning.

"We're happy to have them," Kurt Suzuki said after the game.

The catcher arguably had the best view in the house of Gallagher's brilliant performance, which matched a career-high seven innings in the midst of scattering a career-low two hits with seven strikeouts.

"Shoot, the guy throws hard," Suzuki said. "He ran his fastball up there in the mid-90s, has two breaking balls and the changeup. When he keeps the ball down in the zone, he's tough.

"He looks like a confident kid, and why not when you have stuff like that?"

Gallagher breezed through the game, his only trouble coming in the third when he allowed an RBI triple to Chone Figgins, which was followed by a sac fly off the bat of Casey Kotchman. It wasn't exactly the type of stuff normally seen from a guy making his debut in a new uniform competing against a new rival.

"I was definitely a little extra amped in that first inning," the pitcher said. "But I was able to control it, and it ended up being good adrenaline. I had good command of my fastball and was locating my pitches pretty well. I was also able to bury my breaking ball when I needed to."

Whatever it was, it was working. Just ask manager Bob Geren, who was pleased with his pitcher.

"His adrenaline was up for sure, but he's a really confident guy," the skipper said. "I've never seen anyone as loose in between innings."

The skipper on the other side must have been singing a completely different tune after watching his starter, Jon Garland, unravel while surrendering seven runs on 10 hits through just 2 2/3 innings against Oakland. It marked the second time this year the pitcher gave up seven runs on 10 hits against the A's lineup -- the first coming on April 28 in Anaheim.

"They just kept going," Geren said of his offense. "A lot of times it's difficult to link so many hits together like that, especially against a good pitcher like Garland."

"Good" may not be the best way to describe the Garland's performance on Friday, though. Fine by Oakland, which sent 11 players to the plate in the midst of a six-run escapade in the third inning that included a two-run single off the bat of newbie Murton.

"His approach to every pitch was great, just the way he was on it," Geren said of the left fielder. "I liked what I saw."

The latter sentence could be repeated when watching Murton's defense, as well. Twice he made running catches in left field that Geren deemed worthy of "SportsCenter" time.

"It was great to get out on the field and get that first one over with," Murton said. "I wanted to get that first hit, too, so hopefully I can now settle in and just play baseball."

If Murton considered Friday his time to "settle in," it's a wonder what A's fans will see come a month from now -- same with Gallagher.

"It's crazy how we seemed to be on the same page right off the bat," Suzuki said of his batterymate. "He shook me off only three times, which is pretty good considering that was our first time out there together."

Even if Gallagher and Murton hadn't provided the A's with some early postgame firework sparks, Oakland would have been just fine thanks to the countless other positives Geren was able to ramble off following the win, which moved the A's four back of Los Angeles in the American League West.

Eight players combined for 15 hits in the game, including three from Jack Hannahan, who tallied two singles and a two-run dinger after entering the game batting .167 (15-for-90) over his past 31 games.

"Well we have one of the best hitting coaches in the league," the third baseman said of A's hitting coach Ty Van Burkleo. "I've been hitting the ball well all year, but they were just falling into gloves for outs. I've been working on my swing every day."

Oakland also got RBI hits from Emil Brown, Carlos Gonzalez, Daric Barton and Jack Cust while the pitching combination of Gallagher, Andrew Brown and Dallas Braden kept the Angels in check.

"I was very happy with his outing," Geren said of Gallagher, "And I'm sure he was too."

Brownie points for Mr. Beane.