Paxton Strong, Palka Clubs Two Homers in 14-2 Rout of Buffalo

WORCESTER, M.A. — James Paxton delivered a strong start and the Worcester Red Sox (15-15) set a new season-high in runs in a 14-2 victory over the Buffalo Bisons (12-18) on Friday night at Polar Park.

On the mound, Paxton started for the WooSox and threw 96 pitches (56 strikes), posting the following line: 5 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 5 BB, 4 K, earning the win. Both runs against the left-hander came in the first, as Paxton walked back-to-back hitters with one out, then allowed an RBI single to Jordan Luplow and a sac-fly to Wynton Bernard.

From there, Paxton would retire 12 of the next 16 he faced, allowing just a single hit over his final four innings of work. He reached 96.6 miles-per-hour on his four-seam fastball and recorded 13 total swing-and-misses.

Worcester came to bat in the bottom of the first trailing 2-0, a deficit that would last five batters. A trio of walks loaded the bases for Greg Allen, who delivered a one-out game-tying single in the first. The next batter, Daniel Palka, began a big night with a two-run single of his own to make it 4-2 WooSox. Caleb Hamilton capped off a five-run fifth with an RBI single, plating Palka.

The home team would ultimately score in five of their first six offensive innings, including a run-scoring single for Wilyer Abreu in the second. After a runless third, Abreu made it his fourth multi-RBI game of the year with a sac-fly.

Leading 7-2 entering the fifth, Palka annihilated a 460-foot solo home run to right-center off Julian Fernandez. Nick Sogard followed with a triple, then was balked home by Fernandez. Ryan Fitzgerald kept the big offensive night rolling next, smashing a 417-foot solo shot of his own to right.

After the three-spot, the WooSox topped that effort with four runs in the sixth. Again, it was Palka who got it started, this time with an opposite field two-run shot. Palka, who hit 26 Triple-A home runs last year, has now hit four for Worcester. After a Sogard single, Buffalo finally got two outs before David Hamilton singled, Niko Goodrum walked and Jorge Alfaro brought two home with his second double of the night.

PALKAAAAAA! pic.twitter.com/ahViZf7FVH

— Worcester Red Sox (@WooSox) May 6, 2023

On the mound, Justin Garza, claimed off waivers from the Angels on April 28, tossed a scoreless sixth. Cam Booser, Joe Jacques and Jake Thompson did the same in the seventh, eighth and ninth, respectively.

Hamilton stole three bases in the game, upping his International League-leading total to 19. Goodrum and Allen also swiped bags, adding to the league-best 61 stolen bases for the team.

The WooSox continue the homestand with a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon, starting at 4:05 p.m. against the Buffalo Bisons, affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. In game one, Brandon Walter (0-2, 4.74) faces Casey Lawrence (1-3, 5.33), while Norwith Gudino (2-3, 4.76) gets the start in game two for the WooSox. Television coverage is on NESN, while radio coverage is live at 3:45 p.m. on 98.9 Nash Icon and the WooSox Radio Network.