Washington Jr.’s homer leads Frogs to win Tuesday
Published 10:52 pm Tuesday, May 5, 2026
EVERETT — The Everett AquaSox took down the Hillsboro Hops 8-6 on Tuesday night in the opening game of the six-game series at Everett Memorial Stadium thanks to an outstanding night at the plate from outfielder Curtis Washington Jr.
Everett jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first courtesy of Seattle Mariners No. 8 prospect Luke Stevenson. Carter Dorighi reached on a fielding error to lead off the inning, later advancing to scoring position on a wild pitch thrown by Hillsboro pitcher David Hagaman. Stevenson singled him home with two outs, hitting a line drive into right field.
Hillsboro battled back in the top of the third inning, taking a 2-1 lead. Adrian Rodriguez walked to begin the frame, and the duo of Trent Youngblood and Yassel Soler singled to load the bases with no outs. Brady Counsell plated the tying run by hitting a sacrifice fly to center field, and Yerald Nin brought home the go-ahead run by doubling into the left-center field gap.
The AquaSox outpaced Hillsboro’s efforts in the bottom half of the frame, scoring six runs of their own to go ahead 7-2. Mariners No. 6 prospect Jonny Farmelo smacked a leadoff double, and each of Josh Caron and Luis Suisbel walked to load the bases. Up to the plate with two outs, Mariners No. 21 prospect Carlos Jimenez lined a two-run single into right field, allowing Farmelo and Caron to cross home plate.
Continuing the scoring attack in the bottom of the third was Austin St. Laurent, who added an RBI single, and Washington Jr., who smashed a three-run home run to right-center field. Washington Jr.’s home run was his fourth of the season, giving him a new single-season high.
The Hops sparked a comeback effort in the top of the fifth, scoring four runs to cut their deficit to one. With one out, Slade Caldwell walked, allowing Counsell to knock an RBI double to open the inning’s scoring. Nin added another run by hitting an RBI single, and Avery Owusu-Asiedu hit an RBI double to make the score 7-5. Contributing the final run of the frame was Modeifi Marte, who knocked an RBI single to right field.
Everett added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth, taking an 8-6 lead. Washington Jr. reached base after being hit by a pitch, later advancing to third base after stealing second and advancing another bag on a passed ball. Dorighi drove him home, hitting a sacrifice fly to left field with no outs.
Holding down the 8-6 AquaSox lead were right-handers Wyatt Lunsford-Shenkman and Casey Hintz. Lunsford-Shenkman dealt two scoreless innings, and Hintz closed out the game by throwing two scoreless innings to earn the save.
