Emerson’s Blast Powers Everett Victory as AquaSox win series

EVERETT — Courtesy of a birthday blast from Seattle Mariners top prospect Colt Emerson, the Everett AquaSox downed the Hillsboro Hops 4-2 in front of 3,482 fans at Funko Field on Sunday.

Following two scoreless innings to begin the game, Hillsboro scored the game’s first run in the top of the third inning. With two outs, Hops outfielder Junior Franco hit a solo home run to right-center field, breaking the scoreless draw. Franco’s homer was his fifth of the season.

AquaSox starting pitcher Nick Payero settled in after Franco’s long ball, throwing five innings of one-run baseball in his outing. The right-hander from Seton Hall University allowed four hits and struck out four Hops while walking three.

Celebrating his 20th birthday, Emerson powered the AquaSox to a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the fifth. After Milkar Perez singled and Anthony Donofrio walked, Emerson launched a 395-foot home run to right center field to give the Frogs the lead. The homer was the ninth of the year for the Seattle Mariners’ top prospect.

Relieving Payero was right-hander Allan Saathoff, who contributed one scoreless inning of work. Adding further run support in the bottom of the sixth was the Everett offense, which scored a run on a throwing error by Hillsboro to extend their lead 4-1.

Throwing the final three innings of the game to secure Everett’s victory were righties Jordan Jackson, Natanael Garabitos, and Gabriel Sosa. Jackson and Garabitos each threw one scoreless inning, and neither of them allowed a base hit. Angel Ortiz hit a ninth-inning home run to cut Everett’s lead to two runs, but the late efforts were ultimately not enough.

Saturday’s game

The Everett AquaSox offense struggled to score Saturday night, falling to the Hillsboro Hops 3-0 in front of 2,805 fans at historic Funko Field.

The game began as a pitcher’s duel across the first five innings as both teams combined for only four baserunners, which were achieved by one hit, one walk, and two hit-by-pitches. AquaSox starting pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje achieved five swinging strikeouts during that period.

Hillsboro scored the game’s first run in the top of the sixth inning as Junior Franco hit a solo home run to right-center field. Cijntje exited after throwing 5 2/3 innings, allowing only three hits while walking none. He also struck out seven batters, tying his career-high. Relieving Cijntje was Shaddon Peavyhouse, who contributed four scoreless outs.

Making his AquaSox debut, José Geraldo threw one inning, allowing zero earned runs while striking out one. Hillsboro added two more runs in the top of the eighth as a pair of fielding errors allowed the Hops to jump ahead 3-0.

Hops starting pitcher John West exited after throwing seven shutout innings, allowing zero hits, while walking one and striking out six. Relieving West was Dawson Brown, who added two hitless outs.

Finishing the night on the mound for the AquaSox was University of Washington alumnus Stefan Raeth, who threw one shutout inning and struck out three. Raeth lowered his earned run average to 1.78 and raised his season strikeout total to 39.

The AquaSox rallied in the bottom of the ninth inning, bringing the tying run to the batter’s box after Colt Emerson walked and Freuddy Batista singled. Batista’s single broke up Hillsboro’s no-hitter, although the efforts ultimately fell short as a lineout and two strikeouts ended the game.

Friday’s game

The Everett AquaSox walked off the Hillsboro Hops to win 9-5 at Funko Field on Friday night thanks to heroics from Charlie Pagliarini in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Joining the AquaSox on an injury rehab assignment, outfielder Cade Marlowe knocked a leadoff single and stole second base to begin the bottom of the first. Colt Emerson reached on a fielding error, allowing Freuddy Batista to smash a three-run homer to give the Frogs an early lead. Batista’s homer was his 11th of the season and his fourth in his last three games played.

Angel Ortiz reduced Everett’s lead to two runs in the top of the fifth inning, narrowly scraping a solo home run over the center field wall. However, Marlowe helped the AquaSox regain a three-run lead in the bottom half of the frame by lining an RBI single to right field.

Everett starting pitcher Taylor Dollard excelled throughout the night, throwing five innings of one-run baseball. The 26-year-old right-hander lowered his earned run average to 2.11, holding Hillsboro to five hits while striking out four and walking none.

In the top of the sixth inning, Hillsboro cut the Frogs’ lead to one run. With two runners on, Modeifi Marte knocked a two-run double down the right field line. Leading off the top of the seventh, Kenny Castillo tied the game 4-4, blasting a solo home run to left field.

Following Castillo’s long ball, the Hops took a one-run lead. After Junior Franco doubled, Slade Caldwell hit an RBI single, giving Hillsboro their first lead of the game. Everett rallied back to tie the game in the bottom of the eighth, though. With Emerson on third base, Charlie Pagliarini slapped an opposite-field single through the left side of the infield to knot the game 5-5.

Hunter Cranton threw a shutout top of the ninth inning, placing Everett in a prime position to walk the game off. After Everett loaded the bases, Pagliarini smashed a walk-off grand slam over the center field wall to win the game for the AquaSox. His long ball was his 12th of the year.