Boston Red Sox pitcher Payton Tolle recorded an out in an unconventional manner Monday night, embracing Seattle Mariners designated hitter Dominic Canzone as he secured the final out of the play. The unusual moment occurred in the top of the third inning of the Red Sox's 9-8 victory at Fenway Park.
With one out and no runners on base, Canzone hit a slow ground ball toward the pitcher's mound. Tolle, a 6-foot-6 left-hander, fielded the ball and pursued Canzone down the first-base line. As Canzone slowed down, realizing he would be beaten to the bag, Tolle reached out and hugged him to complete the out.
"It just kind of happened," Tolle said after the game, according to The Athletic. "I was right there in front of him, like, ‘Bring it in for the big one.’"
Tolle suggested Canzone may have been surprised by the embrace. "I mean, probably for a second," Tolle said. "But then it's like, ‘Yeah, this is just going to happen.’"
Tolle and Canzone had not met prior to the play. "No, but we do (know each other) now," Tolle added.
Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story commented on the play, noting Tolle's outgoing personality. "The guy gives hugs all the time, so I'm not sure which one you're talking about," Story joked, per MLB.com. "But yeah, that was funny, man. Payton's just a special person. He plays the game like a little kid, which I feel like we all should."
Tolle pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing four runs on six hits and two walks while striking out six. He did not factor into the decision. The Red Sox came back from a three-run deficit in the eighth and ninth innings to force extra innings before winning on Story's walk-off single. The Red Sox, now 75-63, are scheduled to play the Mariners, who are 64-74, again on Tuesday evening.