Payton Tolle showed up at Fenway Park on Sunday morning, saluted his manager as he does every day and began to prepare for his start, despite the uncertainty of a game time with a lingering rainstorm. “He came in and gave me my salute this morning,” interim manager Chad Tracy said, “and he said, ‘3:05?’ And I was like, ‘Plan on it.’ And he's like, ‘But be ready to pivot?’ I was like, ‘Be ready to pivot.’ And that was the last I saw him. So he'll be ready.” Tolle wasn’t just ready; he was immaculate. Three minutes after throwing the first pitch of the game, a joyful Tolle pumped his fist and laughed as he walked off the mound, having recorded just the eighth immaculate inning on record for the Red Sox. Tolle‘s first inning set the tone for Boston’s 4-1 win over Kansas City to take the series. “I don't think I had seen one in person,” Tracy said. “I have now.” The Red Sox, now 82-68, maintain a comfortable six-game lead in the second AL Wild Card spot while remaining 4 1/2 games back of the Yankees for the top spot.
