Red Sox pitcher Payton Tolle records immaculate inning against Royals
5 sources • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 13, 2026, 9:42 PM
Last updated Sep 13, 2026
Payton Tolle achieved an immaculate inning for the Boston Red Sox in their game against the Kansas City Royals on September 13, 2026. Tolle struck out the first three batters he faced, throwing nine consecutive strikes without allowing any contact, thereby demonstrating his dominance right from the start. This rare feat marked Tolle's rise as a key player in the Red Sox rotation, particularly as the team vies for a postseason spot. Tolle had previously recorded 12 strikeouts in a game less than a week earlier, further showcasing his abilities as a young pitcher.
- •Tolle struck out Nick Loftin, Bobby Witt Jr., and Jac Caglianone.
- •He threw seven swinging strikes among his nine pitches.
- •This is Tolle's second consecutive strong outing after a 12-strikeout game.
- •Tolle became the first Red Sox pitcher with an immaculate inning since Chris Sale in 2021.
- •The game was played at Fenway Park and was impacted by a rain delay.
- 10:33 PMESPN — Red Sox's Tolle opens start with immaculate inning
- 9:24 PMYahoo Sports — Red Sox starter Payton Tolle opens game vs. Royals with immaculate inning
- 9:21 PMYahoo Sports — Boston's Payton Tolle pitches immaculate inning to open game against Kansas City
- 9:08 PMYahoo Sports — Red Sox’s Payton Tolle Makes History With Immaculate Inning
"Boston Red Sox left-hander Payton Tolle pitched an immaculate inning to open Sunday's game against the Kansas City Royals. The 23-year-old left-hander threw a called third strike past Nick Loftin, then got Bobby Witt Jr. and Jac Caglianone swinging in the nine-pitch inning. Tolle became Boston's first pitcher to throw an immaculate inning opening a game since Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez at Fenway Park against Seattle on May 18, 2002.
"Payton Tolle put together a historic opening inning for the Red Sox, striking out the top of Kansas City’s lineup on nine consecutive strikes.
"Red Sox left-hander Payton Tolle pitched an immaculate inning to open Sunday's game against the Kansas City Royals.
Sources
External links- ESPNSep 13, 2026, 10:33 PMRed Sox's Tolle opens start with immaculate inning
Red Sox left-hander Payton Tolle pitched an immaculate inning to open Sunday's game against the Kansas City Royals.
- Yahoo SportsSep 13, 2026, 9:24 PMRed Sox starter Payton Tolle opens game vs. Royals with immaculate inning
Tolle threw a perfect first inning, just 2 days after Diamondbacks reliever Justin Martinez also achieved the feat.
- Yahoo SportsSep 13, 2026, 9:21 PMBoston's Payton Tolle pitches immaculate inning to open game against Kansas City
Boston Red Sox left-hander Payton Tolle pitched an immaculate inning to open Sunday's game against the Kansas City Royals. The 23-year-old left-hander threw a called third strike past Nick Loftin, then got Bobby Witt Jr. and Jac Caglianone swinging in the nine-pitch inning. Tolle became Boston's first pitcher to throw an immaculate inning opening a game since Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez at Fenway Park against Seattle on May 18, 2002.
- Yahoo SportsSep 13, 2026, 9:08 PMRed Sox’s Payton Tolle Makes History With Immaculate Inning
Payton Tolle put together a historic opening inning for the Red Sox, striking out the top of Kansas City’s lineup on nine consecutive strikes.
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