Q: What happened when the AquaSox opened the Hillsboro series on May 5, 2026?
A: Curtis Washington Jr. hit a three-run home run — his fourth of the season — as part of a six-run third inning, and Everett beat the Hillsboro Hops 8-6 at Funko Field. Wyatt Lunsford-Shenkman earned the win and Casey Hintz notched his second save of the year.
Curtis Washington Jr. Lights Up Funko Field
The Everett AquaSox are home, and Tuesday night at Funko Field felt like a reminder of exactly why this roster is worth watching. Curtis Washington Jr. blasted a three-run home run to right-center in the third inning — his fourth of 2026, a new career single-season high — as the Frogs took Game 1 of the Hillsboro Hops series 8-6 in front of 754 fans on a spring night in Everett.
This was a game with some sloppiness, a five-run Hops comeback in the fifth that made it interesting, and ultimately a bullpen that held the door shut. The kind of 8-6 win that leaves you feeling good about the roster depth even while knowing there’s work to be done.
How It Unfolded: The Six-Run Third
The AquaSox took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first when Luke Stevenson (Seattle Mariners’ No. 8 prospect) singled home Carter Dorighi, who had reached on a Hillsboro fielding error and advanced on a wild pitch. Clean, efficient, the kind of early RBI Stevenson has been delivering all month — no coincidence he just earned the Mariners’ Minor League Hitter of April award.
Hillsboro answered in the top of the third. Adrian Rodriguez walked, Trent Youngblood and Yassel Soler singled to load the bases, Brady Counsell hit a sacrifice fly, and Yerald Nin doubled into the left-center gap to put the Hops up 2-1. It looked for a moment like Hillsboro starter David Hagaman — Arizona’s No. 8 prospect — might settle in.
He didn’t. The bottom of the third became a six-run avalanche. Mariners No. 6 prospect Jonny Farmelo led off with a double. Josh Caron walked. Luis Suisbel walked to load the bases with two outs. Then Carlos Jimenez (Mariners No. 21 prospect) lined a two-run single to right, scoring Farmelo and Caron to tie it at 3. Austin St. Laurent followed with an RBI single to make it 4-2. And then Washington Jr. stepped in and sent one to right-center — a three-run shot that made it 7-2 and sent the small but enthusiastic crowd home happy before the fifth inning even arrived.
The Hops Made It Interesting
Credit the Hillsboro Hops: they didn’t fold. The top of the fifth saw a four-run explosion that cut the lead to 7-6. Slade Caldwell (Arizona’s No. 3 prospect) walked, Counsell knocked an RBI double, Nin added an RBI single, Avery Owusu-Asiedu hit an RBI double, and Modeifi Marte brought home one more with a single to right. Suddenly it was a game again.
Everett answered in the sixth. Washington Jr. reached on a hit-by-pitch, stole second, advanced to third on a passed ball, and Dorighi drove him home with a sacrifice fly to left. 8-6 AquaSox.
Pitching: Lunsford-Shenkman and Hintz Slam the Door
Taylor Dollard started and went four innings. Armbruester tossed one frame. Then Wyatt Lunsford-Shenkman came on and was filthy — two scoreless innings, picking up his second win of the season. Casey Hintz closed it out with two more scoreless innings for his second save. The Hops had 12 hits on the night but couldn’t string them together enough in the late innings to tie it up.
Hillsboro’s pitching staff — Hagaman (2.2), Russell (0.1), Aracena (2.0), Brown (3.0) — eventually settled down, but the damage was already done by the bottom of the third.
Prospect Watch: Names to Know
Three Mariners prospects showed out in the box score tonight. Jonny Farmelo (M’s No. 6) set the third inning in motion with his leadoff double. Carlos Jimenez (M’s No. 21) delivered the clutch two-run single with two outs. And Curtis Washington Jr. provided the headline play with his three-run shot. Add in Luke Stevenson (No. 8) providing the first-inning RBI, and you’ve got a prospect showcase tucked inside an 8-6 box score.
This comes on the heels of Stevenson winning the Mariners Minor League Hitter of the Month award for April (.321 BA, .500 OBP, .982 OPS, 20 walks) and Brock Moore winning the bullpen award (8.1 IP, 20 K, 1 BB, 4 SV in April). The talent pipeline feeding through Everett right now is genuinely impressive.
Tonight: Bryce Miller on the Mound
Wednesday night is must-see baseball at Funko Field. Seattle Mariners pitcher Bryce Miller is making his second AquaSox rehab start of 2026 at 7:05 PM, continuing his recovery from the oblique inflammation that sidelined him before the season. His April 24 AquaSox outing (3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 K, 47 pitches) was excellent. Tonight, he faces the Hops in what may be his final tune-up before rejoining the Seattle rotation.
What’s Coming This Week
The six-game Hillsboro homestand runs through Sunday, May 10, with something every night worth showing up for. Coors Light Throwback Thursday is Thursday, Star Wars Night on Saturday, Sunday Fun Day closes the week, and the AquaSox Mother’s Day Picnic rounds it out. Tickets are available at aquasox.com. All games at Funko Field, 7:05 PM first pitch (Sunday at 1:05 PM).
The Frogs are building something interesting in Everett this spring. Come watch it in person.
Box Score
Hillsboro Hops: 0-0-2-0-4-0-0-0-0 = 6 R, 12 H, 1 E
Everett AquaSox: 1-0-6-0-0-1-0-0-X = 8 R, 9 H, 1 E
Win: Lunsford-Shenkman (2-0) | Loss: Hagaman (0-1) | Save: Hintz (2)
Everett pitching: Dollard 4.0 IP, Armbruester 1.0 IP, Lunsford-Shenkman 2.0 IP, Hintz 2.0 IP
Time: 2:49 | Attendance: 754
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who won the AquaSox game on May 5, 2026?
A: The Everett AquaSox beat the Hillsboro Hops 8-6 in the series opener at Funko Field.
Q: Who hit the home run for the AquaSox on May 5?
A: Curtis Washington Jr. hit a three-run home run to right-center in the third inning — his fourth of the 2026 season and a new career single-season high.
Q: Who got the win for Everett on May 5?
A: Wyatt Lunsford-Shenkman earned the win (now 2-0) with two scoreless innings; Casey Hintz earned his second save with two more scoreless frames.
Q: Is Bryce Miller pitching for the AquaSox this week?
A: Yes — Mariners right-hander Bryce Miller is scheduled to make a rehab start Wednesday, May 6, at 7:05 PM at Funko Field against the Hillsboro Hops.
Q: What promotions does the AquaSox homestand have?
A: Coors Light Throwback Thursday (May 7), Star Wars Night (May 9), Sunday Fun Day, and the Mother’s Day Picnic (May 10). All games at Funko Field — 7:05 PM weeknights/Saturday, 1:05 PM Sunday.
Q: Who are the Mariners prospects on the AquaSox in 2026?
A: Standout prospects on the 2026 AquaSox include Jonny Farmelo (No. 6), Luke Stevenson (No. 8), Carlos Jimenez (No. 21), Felnin Celesten, Brandon Eike, and Curtis Washington Jr., among others.
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