Boston Red Sox rookie Payton Tolle delivered a historic performance on Friday, June 26, 2026, leading his team to a 6-1 victory over the New York Yankees at Fenway Park.
The left-handed pitcher carried a perfect game into the sixth inning, finishing with seven scoreless innings, allowing only one hit and two walks while striking out seven batters.
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Tolle achieved his career-best outing despite feeling severely ill and spending most of the day bedridden before the game.
"This morning, and a little bit yesterday, just had like a body ache, fever, head felt fine, not coughing or anything," Tolle said.
The rookie explained that his lack of rest affected his endurance later in the matchup.
"But I laid in bed for a good, long time this morning, and then got here, got some DayQuil in me, and I think that's why I hit the wall so hard in the seventh, just not sleeping great, and being a lazy bum in bed all day," Tolle said.
Tolle noted that he managed to push through the physical discomfort to complete his scheduled start.
"I was like, I don't feel great, but I'm going to pitch today, and there were a couple of times where I was like, 'Do I tell anybody, or should I just push through this?'
But we got some booster stuff, got a bunch of vitamins or something, and that helped out, so it was good.
