Curtis Washington Jr. Powers Everett AquaSox Past Hillsboro Hops in 8–6 Shootout

EVERETT, Wash. — The Everett AquaSox didn’t just win on Tuesday night — they erupted. Behind an offensive masterclass from Curtis Washington Jr., a barrage of extra-base hits, and late bullpen steadiness, the AquaSox outslugged the Hillsboro Hops 8–6 in the series opener at Everett Memorial Stadium.

It was a game that had a little bit of everything: early fireworks, middle-inning chaos, and a lineup that looked fully in sync with its swagger. After falling behind briefly, Everett blitzed Hillsboro with a six-run third inning to take control — and never surrendered the lead again.

Early Sparks and a Quick Answer

The night started fast for Everett. Mariners No. 8 prospect Luke Stevenson wasted no time putting the AquaSox on the board, lining a two-out single into right field to plate Carter Dorighi, who reached on an error and advanced to second on a wild pitch.

For the Hops, however, the early hiccup didn’t linger. In the top of the third, they struck back with classic small-ball execution. Adrian Rodriguez worked a walk, Trent Youngblood and Yassel Soler followed with singles to load the bases, and Brady Counsell brought one across with a sacrifice fly to center. One batter later, Yerald Nin capped the rally with a lasered double into left-center to give Hillsboro a 2–1 lead.

Then came the chaos.

The Six-Run Avalanche

Everett’s half of the third was pure offensive combustion, a lineup working like a machine that smelled blood. Mariners No. 6 prospect Jonny Farmelo opened with a rope double, and Josh Caron and Luis Suisbel both drew walks to load the bases. But what could have fizzled quickly turned electric.

With two outs, Carlos Jimenez, Seattle’s 21st-ranked prospect punched a two-run single into right field to bring the stadium to life. Then, Austin St. Laurent added an RBI single to extend the lead.

And that’s when Curtis Washington Jr. stepped to the plate.

Already having one of the most consistent power surges of his career, Washington coolly turned on a pitch from Hillsboro starter David Hagaman and crushed a three-run homer to right-center a no-doubt shot that cleared the fence before anyone in the outfield even turned their heads. It was Washington’s fourth long ball of the year, a new single-season best, and the exclamation point on a six-run frame that swung the momentum entirely in Everett’s direction.

Just like that, 7–2 AquaSox.

Hillsboro’s Comeback Bid

These Hops aren’t wired to roll over, though. By the fifth, they pieced together a rally that brought life back into their dugout. Slade Caldwell drew a one-out walk that set the table for Counsell, who lasered an RBI double down the left line to make it 7–3.

Nin — who’d been a thorn in Everett’s side all night — followed with a sharp RBI single up the middle, and Avery Owusu-Asiedu added another on a double of his own. Moments later, Modeifi Marte delivered the fourth straight run of the inning with a knock to right field, cutting Everett’s lead all the way down to 7–6.

It was the fifth-inning storm everyone expected in a Northwest League showdown — a test of whether Everett’s bullpen could finally quiet the bleeding.

Insurance, Speed, and Shutdown Arms

Enter Curtis Washington Jr., again.

In the bottom of the sixth, he wore a pitch squarely on the shoulder to lead off the inning, then proceeded to showcase his wheels. First a stolen base. Then a dash to third on a passed ball. And finally, the payoff: Dorighi’s well-placed sac fly to left to bring him home.

That run didn’t just make it 8–6 — it reasserted Everett’s control and forced Hillsboro to chase.

From that point forward, it was bullpen lockdown mode.

Right-hander Wyatt Lunsford-Shenkman bridged the middle innings with two scoreless frames, pounding the zone with precision and avoiding the walks that burned Hagaman earlier. Then Casey Hintz slammed the door — two innings, zero runs, and a textbook save to ice the victory.

Curtis Washington Jr.: The Spark Plug

If Washington’s season had been solid before, Tuesday pushed it toward something special. His three-run homer was his fourth of the year — already a career high — and it came with the kind of effortless pop that could turn him into a permanent fixture in the heart of Everett’s order.

His heroics didn’t stop there. Reaching base three times, scoring twice, and disrupting Hillsboro’s rhythm with his aggressive baserunning, Washington defined the game beyond the box score. It’s not just that he’s mashing — it’s that he’s manufacturing runs even when the bat leaves his hands.

The AquaSox have a loaded prospect pipeline, and Washington might not headline it — but the dude just keeps making noise.

Farm System Promises Showing Up

The major storyline underneath Everett’s early-season rhythm is the Mariners’ youth movement finally peeking through. Between Farmelo, Stevenson, Jimenez, and Betts, every level of Seattle’s system seems to have someone shining weekly.

On Tuesday, that development was on full display. Jimenez’s ability to deliver with two outs reinforced why Seattle coaches are hyped about his discipline in clutch moments. Stevenson’s quick bat from the left side continues to torment right-handers. And Farmelo's leadoff double to ignite the six-run inning embodied how much energy this lineup generates from its top half.

This wasn’t just a minor-league win — it was a reminder that the Mariners’ farm keeps producing gamers.

Hillsboro’s Heart and a Glimmer of Fight

The Hops, despite the loss, showed resilience that can’t go unnoticed. That fifth-inning rally wasn’t luck — it was contact, sequencing, and discipline. Counsell and Nin remain two of the most quietly consistent hitters in the Northwest League, and Owusu-Asiedu’s bat looks increasingly dangerous each week.