Red Sox reactions: Rookie’s velocity down, offense manages just 4 hits in loss

TORONTO — Instant reactions from the Red Sox' 3-0 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre:

1. Boston dropped to 12-18 overall and 2-1 under interim manager Chad Tracy. The Blue Jays improved to 13-16.

2. Red Sox starter Payton Tolle pitched 4 ⅔ innings, allowing three runs, three hits and four walks while striking out four. He threw 61.8% strikes.

3. Tolle’s velocity was down. He averaged 95.0 mph on his four-seam fastball (35 pitches, topping out at 96.2 mph) compared to 97.1 mph last Thursday against the Yankees (46 pitches, topping out at 99.5 mph)

4. The Red Sox offense managed just four hits. Marcelo Mayer, Masataka Yoshida and Trevor Story each singled. Willson Contreras doubled. Boston went 0 for 3 with runners in scoring position and left five men on base.

5. Blue Jays starter Trey Yesavage made his 2026 debut after beginning the season on the IL with a right shoulder impingement. He tossed 5 ⅓ scoreless innings, holding Boston to four hits and no walks while striking out three. Yesavage enjoyed a breakout postseason in 2025 after only making three starts as a rookie in the regular season. He went 3-1 with a 3.58 ERA in six postseason outings (five starts) to help lead the Blue Jays to the American League championship.