Fenway's Wet Welcome: Red Sox, Royals Battle Through Delays to Deliver Thrilling Matchup

Oh, the fickle nature of New England weather! Baseball fans gearing up for a classic Sunday afternoon at Fenway Park had their plans — and patience — tested this past weekend. What was supposed to be a comfortable 1:35 p.m. ET start for the Boston Red Sox versus the Kansas City Royals on Sunday, September 13, 2026, quickly turned into an exercise in waiting, thanks to some truly uncooperative skies over Boston.

The first sign of trouble arrived on Saturday, when the Red Sox, in consultation with Major League Baseball, announced an initial delay. The game's start time was pushed back by a good 90 minutes, rescheduling the first pitch to 3:05 p.m. ET. You know, just enough time for an extra coffee or perhaps a leisurely lunch, but certainly a bit of a curveball for those planning their day.

But Mother Nature, it seemed, had other ideas. Sunday dawned with a forecast that wasn't letting up – an extended period of rain, coupled with high humidity, was predicted to drench the city through the morning and well into the early afternoon. In fact, Boston was under a Flood Warning, which tells you just how serious the inclement weather really was. So, even the 3:05 p.m. start time proved overly optimistic.

Ultimately, the actual first pitch didn't fly until 4:55 p.m. EDT. That's a whopping 1 hour and 50 minutes after the already delayed 3:05 p.m. slot, and a full three hours and twenty minutes beyond the original scheduled start. Talk about delayed gratification! The good news, of course, was that all tickets for Sunday's game remained perfectly valid, so dedicated fans just needed to adjust their expectations – and perhaps grab another Fenway Frank while they waited. The team kept everyone updated, even posting a "Fenway Weather Update" on X as the afternoon wore on.

When the game finally got underway, though, it was a real treat, a testament to why we love baseball. The rain-soaked wait seemed to add an extra layer of drama. Red Sox pitcher Payton Tolle wasted absolutely no time making history right out of the gate, throwing an immaculate inning to start the game. That’s right – nine pitches, three strikeouts. It was a truly masterful performance and, incredibly, the first time a Boston pitcher had accomplished such a feat to begin a game since the legendary Pedro Martinez did it way back on May 18, 2002. What an opener!

The Royals, for their part, put up a fight. Carter Jensen managed to drive in a run with a pinch-hit single, showing some grit. But the Red Sox offense, once it got going, proved formidable. Roman Anthony delivered a crucial go-ahead single, shifting momentum. Caleb Durbin then added to the lead with a powerful solo homer, bringing the crowd to its feet. And just to put an exclamation point on things, Trevor Story smashed a game-breaking two-run single, effectively sealing the deal for Boston.

On the mound, Noah Cameron and Nate Pearson pitched for the Royals, trying to stem the tide. For the Red Sox, Garrett Whitlock was ultimately credited with the victory, a well-deserved nod for his efforts. Even Craig Kimbrel, with his 1-5 record, saw some action, and Aroldis Chapman came in to secure the save, wrapping up a memorable, if somewhat soggy, afternoon at the ballpark. Despite all the delays, players like Nick Loftin, Bobby Witt Jr., and Jac Caglianone were part of a truly hard-fought contest.

So, what began with frustrating delays and a gloomy forecast ended up being an unforgettable game filled with historic moments and thrilling baseball. It just goes to show you: sometimes the best things are worth waiting for, even if it means dodging a few raindrops at America's Most Beloved Ballpark.