The Boston Red Sox picked up an important 4-1 win over the Kansas City Royals on Sunday, and Roman Anthony had plenty to say about the pitcher who helped make it happen.
Payton Tolle gave Boston one of his best starts of the season at Fenway Park, opening the game with an immaculate inning and keeping Kansas City off the scoreboard for six innings.
After the game, Anthony praised his teammate’s performance in a message reported by Tim Healey on X.
“He’s an electric pitcher. He’s an electric human being,” Anthony said of Tolle.
Tolle certainly lived up to that description. The left-hander struck out the side on nine pitches to begin the game before continuing to work through the Royals lineup.
He finished with six scoreless innings, allowing four hits and one walk while striking out seven. The outing left him with a 3.02 ERA on the season.
Tolle has become an important part of Boston’s rotation in 2026. He entered Sunday with a 9-6 record, 143 innings and 166 strikeouts across 25 starts.
Anthony also played a major role in the victory. The young outfielder went 1-for-4 and delivered the go-ahead RBI single with two outs in the seventh inning to put Boston in front.
Trevor Story later added a two-run single to give the Red Sox some breathing room as they secured the series win.
The victory moved Boston to 82-68 and kept the Red Sox in position for an AL Wild Card spot. They currently sit behind the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles in the AL East.
Anthony has appeared in 44 games this season and is hitting .241 with a .342 on-base percentage, four home runs and 10 RBI. His role in Boston’s lineup will remain important as the team heads into the final stretch.
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The Red Sox now have an off-day before beginning a three-game road series against the Texas Rangers.
For Boston, Sunday’s win provided another reminder of how important its young players can be down the stretch.
Tolle handled the Royals on the mound, while Anthony delivered the key hit when the Red Sox needed it most.
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