Red Sox bury Orioles behind Payton Tolle's 12 strikeouts, complete four-game sweep

The Red Sox spent the final three days of their trip to Baltimore making life miserable for the Orioles’ lineup, and Sunday was no different.

Payton Tolle struck out 12 as Boston completed a four-game sweep with a 3-1 win at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, finishing a dominant stretch in which Red Sox pitching allowed just one run over the final three games of the series.

The Red Sox (79-65) also got a three-run homer from Eli White and the 400th save of Aroldis Chapman’s career while sending Baltimore tumbling from 69-71 to 69-75.

Tolle is quickly becoming appointment viewing whenever he takes the mound for the Red Sox. His stuff is electric, the strikeouts pile up in a hurry and, somehow, something entertaining seems to happen every time he pitches.

After hugging a Mariners hitter while recording an out in his previous start, Tolle provided another unusual moment Sunday. He slipped after delivering a pitch, then dropped to the ground and did a push-up before getting back to work.

Tolle struck out 12, his second-highest total in a major league start behind only the 14 he recorded against the Athletics on Aug. 7. He allowed one run on four hits without issuing a walk.

“It was an amazing performance by our pitching staff for four days, it was awesome,” Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy told reporters in Baltimore. “Tolle today was fantastic and the guys coming out of the pen were awesome, Chappy gets the 400th save, can’t say enough about the way we threw the ball this week.”

Boston’s pitchers combined for 17 strikeouts without a walk on Sunday.

Tolle’s four-seam fastball again drove the performance. He generated eight of his 17 swings-and-misses with the pitch, which averaged 96.9 mph and topped out at 99.1 mph.

“He’s having fun out there,” Tracy said. “Some guys are very intense, lock in when they start and he has to have fun, that’s what makes him go. He’s enjoying himself out there.”

Baltimore managed to strike first, but the lead didn’t last long. 

White, who has done an admirable job filling in for the injured Ceddanne Rafaela, turned the game around with one swing in the second inning. His three-run homer off Kyle Bradish put Boston ahead, 3-1, and provided all the offense Tolle and the bullpen would need.

It was White’s second significant hit in as many days. He delivered the go-ahead two-run single in the sixth inning of Saturday’s 5-0 victory and started all four games in center field during the series.

Boston placed Rafaela on the 10-day injured list with a right quad strain Sunday, making White’s contributions increasingly important.

“Big swing today,” Tracy said. “I thought we did a great job early, we had some other opportunities, we could have scored more, but the three-run homer was huge.”

Adley Rutschman also made an impact against his former team without needing his bat.

Rece Hinds opened the fifth with a double, but Rutschman quickly erased him. The catcher fired behind Hinds at second base after he strayed too far from the bag. Hinds initially was ruled safe, but Boston challenged the call and it was overturned.

Rutschman ranks in the 96th percentile among major league catchers in caught stealing above average, and his arm showed why on the play.

Once Tolle’s day was finished, Boston’s bullpen gave Baltimore nothing and held the Orioles at bay. 

Erik Miller continued to look like one of the Red Sox’ most impactful trade deadline additions with a perfect seventh inning. The left-hander struck out Christian Encarnacion-Strand and Hinds before getting Gunnar Henderson to ground out.

Tracy then made an interesting choice in the eighth, turning to Jovani Morán with Boston protecting a two-run lead.

Morán entered with a 4.87 ERA and 1.52 WHIP in the second half, but with two left-handed hitters due up, the decision paid off. Morán retired the side in order.

That left the ninth for Chapman who etched his name in baseball history.

The 38-year-old closer finished off the sweep and recorded the 400th save of his career, becoming just the ninth reliever in major league history to reach the milestone.

“I’m blessed to be along for the ride to be honest with you,” Tracy said of Chapman’s milestone. “In the middle of April I didn’t think I’d be standing here watching Aroldis Chapman save his 400th game and be able to be there up close and personal to witness it, I’m blessed just to be able to watch it. And now that I’ve gotten to know him and see the work ethic, it’s pretty cool.”

Chapman joined Mariano Rivera (652), Trevor Hoffman (601), Kenley Jansen (493), Lee Smith (478), Craig Kimbrel (441), Francisco Rodríguez (437), John Franco (424) and Billy Wagner (422) in the 400-save club, adding another significant accomplishment to his Hall of Fame résumé.

“It means a lot to me,” Chapman said via interpreter Carlos Villoria Benítez during a postgame interview with NESN’s Jahmai Webster. “That was one of my personal goals for this season and when I look throughout my career there were moments that I thought I wasn’t going to be able to get to this goal, and thank God I was able to do it today.”

After winning Thursday’s opener, 6-5, the Red Sox allowed just one run over the final 27 innings of the series. Ranger Suarez threw seven scoreless Friday, Sonny Gray followed with seven shutout innings Saturday and Tolle overwhelmed Baltimore on Sunday.

The Red Sox now return to Fenway Park for six games beginning Monday at 1:35 p.m. with the first of three against the Angels. Boston is expected to start right-hander Brayan Bello. 

Morgan Magic

Joe Morgan, who spent 18 years in the Red Sox organization and authored one of the most memorable midseason turnarounds in franchise history as manager, died Saturday night at age 95, the club announced.

Morgan’s name remains synonymous with the remarkable summer of 1988, when the Walpole native took over a struggling Red Sox team and almost immediately transformed its season.

“Joe Morgan holds a special place in Red Sox history,” principal owner John Henry said in a statement released by the team. “When he took over in 1988, he changed the course of a season and created one of the most memorable chapters in the history of this club. The two division titles that followed only strengthened a bond with Red Sox fans that endured for the rest of his life. We extend our deepest condolences to his family and all who loved him.”

Morgan joined the Red Sox organization in 1974 and remained in various roles through 1991, serving as a minor league manager, coach, scout and eventually big league manager.

His defining moment came July 14, 1988 when Boston was 43-42 and John McNamara was fired and Morgan was promoted to manager. The Red Sox responded by winning 19 of their next 20 games, a run that became forever known around New England as “Morgan Magic.”

Boston went on to win the AL East and reach the American League Championship Series. Two years later, Morgan guided the Red Sox to another division championship and ALCS appearance.

He finished his four seasons as Boston’s manager with a 301-262 record and was inducted into the Red Sox Hall of Fame in 2006.

“Joe Morgan managed the Red Sox during some of my most formative years as a fan,” Red Sox president and CEO Sam Kennedy said. “Joe made us believe, and when you experience that as a kid, it stays with you. I was fortunate enough to get to know him later in life and found an even better person than the baseball man I had admired. I will miss him deeply.”

Morgan’s connection to New England baseball stretched well beyond his time managing the Red Sox.

He attended Boston College before signing with the Boston Braves in 1952 and played 88 major league games over four seasons with the Milwaukee Braves, Kansas City Athletics, Philadelphia Phillies, Cleveland Indians and St. Louis Cardinals.

After his playing career, Morgan eventually returned home and became manager of the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox in 1974 and spent nine seasons in that role through 1982, becoming the longest-tenured manager in PawSox history.

Morgan joined Boston’s major league staff in 1983, first as a scout before becoming first base coach in 1985. He was part of the 1986 Red Sox team that won the AL pennant before finally getting his opportunity to manage two years later.

There is also an unmistakable connection between Morgan’s defining season and what has unfolded in Boston this year.

The 2026 Red Sox have undergone their own dramatic turnaround following a midseason managerial change, making it fitting that Morgan got to watch another Boston team revive its season under an interim manager.

“‘Morgan Magic’ is forever part of Red Sox lore,” chairman Tom Werner said. “Joe took over in 1988 and gave New England a summer it would never forget. How fitting that, in his final season watching the Red Sox, he saw another team respond to adversity with a remarkable run of its own. Joe gave us one of the great chapters in this club’s history, and we will always remember him for it. Our hearts are with his family.”

Morgan is survived by his children Catherine, Joseph Jr., William and Barbara; six grandchildren, Anthony, Ashley, Rachel, Paige, Jake and Michael; and five great-grandchildren, Marco, Evelyn, Vincent, Anthony Jr. and Arielle.