Red Sox's Catcher Shares High Praise For Payton Tolle Following Loss

Boston Red Sox pitcher Payton Tolle

Red Sox's Catcher Shares High Praise For Payton Tolle Following Loss originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Boston Red Sox sent Payton Tolle to the mound on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Rays, looking to earn a series win.

Tolle allowed a first-inning home run to Junior Caminero, as he ended up going five innings, allowing three runs on seven hits, while striking out four. Although Tolle gave up three runs, Red Sox catcher Mickey Gaspar thought the starter made good pitches, but the Rays just made some good swings.

“I thought (Tolle’s) stuff was great,” said Gaspar postgame on Sunday. “A couple of runs scored on some really good pitches. We have to tip our caps to them.”

The Rays scored twice in the third inning, as the Red Sox made an error and some hits got through the infield, which led to the runs.

So, despite allowing seven hits and three runs, the Red Sox’s interim manager Chad Tracy was pleased with how Tolle pitched.

“I thought he pitched well,” Tracy said. “The strike percentage was outstanding. Any time you’ve got a guy with that kind of stuff, and you see that kind of strike percentage, you’re going to like it. More often than not, you’re going to be in good shape. When you’re dealing with the Rays, they grind out at-bats and they don’t strike out much.”