BOSTON – The possibility of history – as in the first perfect game by a Boston pitcher since Cy Young in 1904 – at least hovered slightly in the Fenway Park air for a while on Friday night. Payton Tolle, Boston’s standout rookie, retired 16 straight Yankees before Spencer Jones ended his bid for perfection on a single to left with one out in the sixth. But that was the only blemish as the power lefty had a night to remember, allowing just the one hit and two walks while striking out seven in leading his Red Sox to a 6-1 victory that guaranteed at least a split of the four-game rivalry series. However, perfection was the last thing on Tolle’s mind when he woke up sick. And that’s what made one of the best performances of his young career so special. “This morning, and a little bit yesterday, just had like a body ache, fever, head felt fine, not coughing or anything,” said Tolle. “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.” Yes, that seventh inning was the one inning the Yankees threatened, as Tolle issued back-to-back, two-out walks. But as Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s fly ball to deep center landed in Ceddanne Rafaela’s trusty glove, Tolle pumped his fist. Then he walked off the mound to a roaring ovation from the crowd of 33,353. “It was really cool,” said Tolle. “I figured it was my last one, too, so I took a moment. It was a slow walk in, just because I want to look up and take it in again. It's a good environment. Friday night against the Yankees is going to be a great environment here, so just take it in, and it was a lot of fun.” Earlier in the day was anything but fun for Tolle, and that says a lot, because he takes joy in just about everything. However, he wasn’t about to give up his 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. It was a grinder \[start\
