Tolle Time: Rookie’s 8-Inning Masterpiece Ends Red Sox Skid in 7-0 Rout

TORONTO — A five-game skid? Not on Payton Tolle's watch.

The Red Sox rookie looked absolutely untouchable Thursday, delivering an eight-inning gem and putting Boston back in the win column with a 7-0 thumping of the Blue Jays. Tolle improved to 8-6 and made it look easy.

THE TOLLE SHOW

Tolle allowed just two hits, struck out four and retired the final 17 batters he faced. He needed only 91 pitches to tie the longest outing of his career. Greg Weissert came on in the ninth to slam the door and secure the shutout.

DURBIN GOES YARD

Boston was nursing a 1-0 lead before Caleb Durbin put the game on ice. Durbin went 3-for-5, launched a grand slam in the eighth inning and added an RBI single in the ninth. His slam came off Chase Lee and landed in the Blue Jays bullpen in left. Celebration warranted.

The scoring started early when Willson Contreras singled in a run in the first inning off Max Scherzer. Scherzer, 42, surpassed 3,000 career innings — allowing one run on three hits with four strikeouts over five frames. He and Justin Verlander are the only active pitchers with that milestone. Respect.

WHAT IT MEANS

The Red Sox snapped a five-game skid that matched their worst of the season, improving to 65-56 and keeping a firm grip on an AL wild-card spot. Boston had ripped off nine straight wins before dropping two to the Athletics and three straight in Toronto. This one gets them back on track.

UP NEXT

Red Sox: LHP Jake Bennett (7-5, 3.17 ERA) starts Friday against the Pirates. Blue Jays: RHP Shane Bieber (3-2, 4.58 ERA) takes the mound Friday versus the Yankees.