OAKLAND -- For A's rookie reliever Michael Brady, getting to pitch in a Major League game was a "surreal" experience.
"It was strange. I wasn't as nervous as I thought I would be," said Brady, who tossed an inning in Tuesday's loss to the Astros. "I was just focused on what I was going to do, and throw some decent pitches up there. Obviously, I think I was a little more nervous than I realized, and I was a little more wild than usual."
Brady gave up a leadoff homer to Carlos Beltran in the ninth, but did not allow another hit, getting two popouts and seeing catcher Josh Phegley catch a runner stealing after a hit by pitch.
"Your first outing can be a little dicey, and it can be a little bit of an out-of-body experience," manager Bob Melvin said. "Next thing you know, you're giving up a home run to a future Hall of Famer. At least he can settle in on saying, 'Hey, my first home run was given up to Carlos Beltran.'"
"It's funny, because I told the bullpen coach that right before I go on, I kind of like to have an idea of who's coming up. I noticed that he didn't really tell me, so then I didn't know where we were in the lineup," Brady said. "Then, I heard it was Beltran. I could give up a home run to a worse hitter, I guess."
It's been a long journey for the 30-year-old, who played college ball at the nearby University of California as an infielder. His college hitting coach, Jon Zuber, who also was the hitting coach for fellow A's players Marcus Semien and Mark Canha, was in attendance Wednesday.
"He probably knew I wasn't going to make it to the big leagues as a hitter," Brady said.
Brady transitioned from the infield to the mound in the low minors, and had been with the Marlins and Nationals organizations before signing with the A's as a Minor League free agent this past offseason. While he admits that his first Major League appearance didn't go the way he wanted, he feels better after pitching in a game.
"I thought last night I got the best night of rest, because I was anticipating going out there so much," Brady said. "I felt a lot more relaxed last night and today. I'm ready to go again, and keep grinding. I started off Triple-A with a really bad first inning, too. I recovered from that, and I can recover again."
Worth noting 
• Third baseman Matt Chapman (left knee infection) was out of the lineup again Wednesday, and may not play Thursday afternoon. But Melvin said Chapman was feeling better, and is hopeful he can play in Chicago over the weekend.
• Semien (right wrist surgery) will begin a Minor League rehab assignment with Class A Advanced Stockton on Friday. He's expected to play about five innings at shortstop, and get three at-bats.
• Right-hander Chris Bassitt (Tommy John) threw a 15-pitch bullpen session on Wednesday, simulating two innings. He is not throwing against hitters yet.
• Reliever Ryan Dull (right knee strain) is "feeling a lot better," according to Melvin. He's expected to get on the mound in the next week or two.