Mustachioed Red Sox rookie Payton Tolle opens game with immaculate inning, leaves Royals helpless
Tolle retired the top of the Royals’ lineup on just nine pitches in front of the Fenway crowd.The 23-year-old left-hander attacked the strike zone, firing eight four-seam fastballs and one sinker.THE CRAIG CARTON SHOW–UNFILTERED, UNAPOLOGETIC AND UNMISSABLE.
DOWNLOAD HIS DAILY PODCAST NOW!Before delivering his ninth pitch, Tolle flashed an enthusiastic look toward home plate, knowing he was on the brink of an immaculate inning.He then struck out Jac Caglianone to complete the feat.This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners.
If you sign up or place a wager, FOX News may be compensated.This content was created by a team that works independently from the FOX newsroom.The immaculate inning was the 125th in MLB history and just the eighth in Red Sox history since 1901.Tolle became Boston’s first pitcher to accomplish the feat since Chris Sale in 2021 and the first to do it in the opening inning since Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez did so against Seattle in May 2002.EX-MLB SOUTHPAW THOMAS PANNONE DOMINATES FOR NASHVILLE SOUNDS WITH 94-PITCH TRIPLE-A PERFECT GAMEPitcher Payton Tolle #70 of the Boston Red Sox is congratulated in the dugout after the sixth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Fenway Park on Sept.
13, 2026, in Boston, Mass.(Getty Images)Payton Tolle #70 of the Boston Red Sox reacts after striking out the side during the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at Fenway Park on Sept.
13, 2026, in Boston, Mass.(Getty Images)The only piece of contact Kansas City managed was pitch seven, a sinker Caglianone barely fouled off toward the left side.The Boston rookie finished with six shutout innings, allowing four hits and one walk while striking out seven on 96 pitches to secure a 4-1 victory.A LAUGHABLY BAD AMERICAN LEAGUE HAS ALLOWED ONE OF BASEBALL'S WORST TEAMS TO CLIMB INTO THE PLAYOFF RACEThe seven strikeouts brought Tolle’s rookie season total to 166, putting him second in Red Sox history behind only Daisuke Mat...