Tolle puts bow on standout rookie season with October spotlight looming

BOSTON -- When Payton Tolle walked off the mound with two outs in the top of the sixth inning on Tuesday night, it was the perfect opportunity for the Fenway faithful to recognize the power lefty for an outstanding rookie season.

And they did just that, giving Tolle a nice ovation as he exited stage right in Boston’s eventual 3-2 loss to the Guardians.

Next time Tolle pitches, the noise is likely to be even louder, and not nearly as favorable.

Look for Tolle to be a key part of Boston’s rotation -- perhaps even the Game 1 starter -- during next week’s AL Wild Card Series, which is all but certain to be played at Yankee Stadium.

The Red Sox will have no hesitation sending out the confident, charismatic 23-year-old into enemy territory.

While this was far from the best (5 2/3 innings, 8 hits, 2 ER, 2 BBs, 5 K’s) of Tolle’s 26 regular-season starts, it was more than enough to keep the Red Sox in the game.

Assuming Tolle doesn’t pitch again in the regular season, his final stat line includes this: A 3.03 ERA, 171 strikeouts, 40 walks, 1.10 WHIP and a .222 opponents batting average.

Playing short-handed without Willson Contreras (bruised knuckle, right hand), Ceddanne Rafaela (right quadriceps strain, 10-day IL) and Trevor Story (rest), the Red Sox continued their recent trend of not scoring much.

There were two bright spots.

Mickey Gasper came up as a pinch-hitter and hammered a game-tying solo shot to right in the bottom of the eighth.

Adley Rutschman, who had been slumping of late, belted two doubles as part of a three-hit night.