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IL Worcester Red Sox

Paxton Strikes Out Six in Rehab Appearance, WooSox Fall to Columbus

April 14, 2023 - International League (IL)
Worcester Red Sox News Release


WORCESTER, M.A. - James Paxton took the mound in front of a sellout crowd of 9,508 equaling the largest in Polar Park history on Friday night, an 8-1 loss for the Worcester Red Sox (5-7) against the Columbus Clippers (7-6).

Paxton made his second Triple-A rehab start for the WooSox, posting the following line: 3.1 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K and reaching 70 pitches (47 strikes).

The left-hander recorded two strikeouts with his knuckle curve, two on his four-seam fastball and two with the cutter-his final pitch was his hardest, a 97 mile-per-hour four seamer to strike out Jhonkensy Noel.

"Felt good. Step in the right direction. Fastball felt good. Still need to dial in the breaking balls a little bit, but it was a step in the right direction."

Columbus' runs against Paxton came in the third, a frame that began with a walk. The next batter, Tyler Freeman, tripled in to the gap on a ball that eluded the dive of the left fielder, plating the Clippers' first run. After a strikeout of number four prospect Bo Naylor, Zack Collins hit a soft infield single, scoring Freeman. Paxton then got a popout and strikeout to close the inning, his final full frame of the night.

Offensively, Worcester took the first lead of the night in the bottom of the opening frame. David Hamilton walked and then recorded sixth steal of the year, a mark that ties him for first in the International League. A groundout pushed him to third, and Niko Goodrum ripped a 111 mile-per-hour RBI single to center to put the home team on top.

That 1-0 lead held until the two-run third by Columbus. In the sixth, Micah Pries and David Fry added to the road team's lead with solo home runs off Matt Dermody: Pries over the Worcester Wall in right and Fry out to left, making it 4-1 Clippers.

They blew the game open in the eighth with a four spot, plating runs on a David Fry RBI single, a two-run double from Tyler Freeman and a wild pitch.

The crowd of 9,508 matches the largest in the history of the ballpark, done twice during the 2021 season on July 31 (a Chris Sale start) and September 26.

The WooSox continue the six-game series at Polar Park on Saturday at 4:05 p.m. against the Columbus Clippers. On the mound, Red Sox number two pitching prospect Brandon Walter (0-1, 4.82) gets the start. Television coverage is live on NESN+, while radio coverage is live at 3:45 p.m. on 98.9 Nash Icon and the WooSox Radio Network.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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