Overview
- The left-hander worked 5 1/3 innings with three hits, two runs and two walks on 84 pitches, striking out eight.
- He exited up 2-0 before Greg Weissert allowed consecutive doubles to Tommy Pham and Andrew McCutchen, and Boston fell 4-2.
- He became the first Red Sox southpaw since Kevin Morton in 1991 to record at least eight strikeouts in his debut, joining Daisuke Matsuzaka on the short list since then.
- Facing Pittsburgh’s Paul Skenes at Fenway Park, Tolle touched 98 mph and generated frequent whiffs with his fastball, cutter and changeup.
- Promoted after a rapid climb from High-A to Triple-A with 133 strikeouts in 91 2/3 innings, he arrived as Boston sought rotation stability, with his call-up video resonating given his mother’s death in 2024.