BOSTON – With an early surge of offense (four runs in the bottom of the first inning) hardly seen by the Red Sox at Fenway Park this season, it seemed like Friday could be the night the team’s vibe at home was going to change.
When rookie starter Payton Tolle had another strong start (six innings, four hits, three runs, nine strikeouts), there was even more reason to believe this to be true.
But it all fell apart in the top of the seventh with an unforeseen meltdown by Justin Slaten, the setup man who entered the night with 15 consecutive scoreless outings dating back to Sept. 16, 2025. The righty served up a pair of two-run homers (Byron Buxton, Austin Martin) in the seventh inning, and Boston’s three-run lead entering the frame turned into a deficit, and, ultimately, an 8-6 defeat.
While the formula changed, Boston’s home woes continued, as the club dropped to 8-15 at Fenway.
Tolle left in position to get the win after his latest strong performance, where he allowed three runs in the second before buckling down and retiring 14 of his last 15 batters faced.
But instead, he left with a no-decision, and the Red Sox experienced another unsatisfying night in their home ballpark.