Spencer Jones singled with 1 out in the 6th to break up Payton Tolle‘s Perfect Game — but the Yanks didn’t get much more against the Tolle or the Red Sox pen in a 6-1 loss at Fenway on a warm, humid Friday night.
It was 4-0 Boston by the 3rd inning, as Will Warren gave up early runs while Payton Tolle was pitching lights out on the other hill. Warren gave up another run in the 6th to make it 5-0.
NY finally got a run in the top of the 8th off former Yankee Tommy Kahnle — Anthony Volpe leading off with a double and then consecutive groundouts scoring him.
“He’s a good pitcher; he’s having a good year for them,” said manager Aaron Boone about Tolle. He’s a highly touted guy for a reason. I thought his strike throwing was really good this time. Last time he had an extra gear — was really big with the 4-seam fastball. Didn’t seem he had quite that velocity tonite, but did a good job of pitching — and mixing in his other fastballs — his cutter — and spinning it when he needed to to slow us down a little bit.”
NY falls to 48-33, their 1st-place lead falling to 1 game over Tampa. Boston improves to 34-46, 13.5 back.
1. Warren Coughs Up Early Runs
Will Warren was not on his game. He allowed a triple to Wilyer Abreu with 2 outs in the 1st — a ball that went over Spencer Jones‘ head in center. A more elite centerfielder like Trent Grisham might have had it.
Wilyer 3B ➡️ Willson RBI pic.twitter.com/dLjuGr1Gm9
— Red Sox (@RedSox) June 26, 2026
Next batter Contreras hit a 2-out single to center and it was 1-0 Boston.
Warren allowed a bunt single to Caleb Durbin leading off the 2nd, then allowed a single to Seigler and walked Connor Wong to load the bases with nobody out. Warren got the next 3 batters out — but 2 were consecutive groundouts for 2 runs and a 3-0 Boston lead.
And then in the 3rd Willson Contreras hit a 418-foot BOMB over The Green Monster for a 4-0 Boston lead.
In a word, CRUSHED. pic.twitter.com/unuY0s4LQM
— Red Sox (@RedSox) June 26, 2026
“He missed in the heart of the plate with both pitches (the triple and the HR), some obviously early and they made him pay,” said manager Aaron Boone afterwards about Warren. “(He was) not getting the swing and miss and not having that real sharp command. I think the big at bat was the walk to Wong, that set up their bigger inning. Stuff seemed ok to me, but struggling to get the swing and miss and not executing at the level he needed to tonite.”
2. Tolle Perfect Game Into 6th
Meanwhile Payton Tolle was pitching a perfect game into the 6th.
Payton Tolle, K’ing the Side in the 2nd. pic.twitter.com/MOuffETJME
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) June 26, 2026
“Just mixing his different fastballs, and he had the ability to slow you down with the curveball,” said manager Aaron Boone about Tolle. “Looked like some pitches he had he was able to get it by us maybe a little up in the zone. The cutter was good for him.”
3. Benches Clear in 5th
It was 5-0 Boston in the bottom of the 5th when Warren walked Contreras — who had hit the HR over the Green Monster the last time up. The 4th ball was inside and Contreras took exception. Words were exchanged and the benches cleared.
Benches clear after Willson Contreras took exception to Will Warren pitching inside pic.twitter.com/KZtnrTgkq6
— Talkin’ Yanks (@TalkinYanks) June 27, 2026
“His arms hang over the plate, so I’m not sure where we’re supposed to go,” said Boone about Contreras. “I think there’s a method to what he’s doing; probably wants that.”
Contreras standing with his hands over the middle of the plate, baiting close pitches and then upset when the pitches are close. Good theatre IMO pic.twitter.com/8PEv8bHV63
— Jomboy (@Jomboy_) June 27, 2026
4. Bosox Go Up 5-0 off Warren In 6th
Spencer Jones was vexed again in centerfield in the 6th — this time a line drive by Caleb Durbin leading off the inning that seemed to wiffle-ball away from him. It went for a double, and a ground out and sac fly by Connor Wong later made it 5-0 Boston.
Spencer Jones is unable to catch a line drive that appeared to have some knuckle ball break on it pic.twitter.com/lQ5598U3U8
— Talkin’ Yanks (@TalkinYanks) June 27, 2026
5. Volpe Double Leads to Yank Only Run
Payton Tolle walked Jasson Dominguez and Jose Caballero with 2 outs in the 7th, but got Jazz Chisholm Jr. to fly out so the Yank threat went by the board. But Tolle seemed to be tiring and was relieved by former Yank Tommy Kahnle to start the 8th.
And immediately the Yanks pounced — Anthony Volpe with a leadoff double. Spencer Jones grounded out to 2nd to advance Volpe to 3rd, and Austin Wells pinch-hit a groundout to 2nd for a run and 5-1 game.
Austin Wells gets the Yankees on the board with a ground out, 5-1 pic.twitter.com/JHLvrxIlae
— Talkin’ Yanks (@TalkinYanks) June 27, 2026
6. Yarbrough & De Los Santos Finish
Ryan Yarbrough relieved Warren to get the last out of the 6th, and pitched a shutout 7th. He allowed a leadoff single to start the 8th however, and Yerry de los Santos came in to plate the runner — getting 2 outs but allowing an RBI single to Connor Wong for a 6-1 game.
7. Watson Finishes Yanks
Ryan Watson — a 28-year-old, 6’5 righty — pitched the 9th for Boston. The Martian hit a 2-out double, but Jose Caballero flied out for the old ballgame.
Etcetera
The Yanks only got 3 hits — all by young players from their system:
- Anthony Volpe went 1-3 and is now batting .262 (.363 OBP).
- Spencer Jones went 1-3 and is batting .226 (.321 OBP).
- Jasson Dominguez went 1-3 with a walk and is batting .234 (.272 OBP).
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