Homer happy AquaSox can’t overcome tough 7th inning in home opener loss
By Charles Hamaker
Everett, WA - Although our Everett AquaSox, the High-A affiliate of our Seattle Mariners, cleared the outfield fences three times Tuesday night, the Frogs narrowly fell to the Hillsboro Hops. With a final score of 7-6, Everett dropped the 2025 home opener at Funko Field. With some of the Mariners top prospects on this AquaSox roster in Jurrangelo Cijntje, Colt Emerson, Lazaro Montes, and Tai Peete, there’s plenty of excitement around the Everett team this year but unfortunately the fans at Funko Field have to wait to celebrate them in a victory.
Everett AquaSox catcher Josh Caron celebrates his first home run of the MiLB season, which gave his team a 2-0 lead early into their eventual home loss to the Hillsboro Hops on Tuesday, April 8th, 2025 at Funko Field. (Photo by Shari Sommerfeld for the Everett AquaSox)
Following two shutout innings to begin this game from AquaSox starting pitcher Nick Payero, Everett emphatically got themselves on the scoreboard with a pair of big blasts over the walls at Funko Field. Outfielder Lazaro Montes, the Seattle Mariners’ number two ranked prospect, and catcher Josh Caron, the Mariners’ 21st ranked prospect, each powered 385-foot home runs to set Everett ahead by a score of 2-0 to the delight of the home crowd.
The AquaSox doubled their lead in the bottom of the third inning thanks to heads-up baserunning from Seattle’s 12th overall prospect in Tai Peete and seventh overall prospect in Michael Arroyo. As Peete swiped second base and the caught stealing attempt sailed to the outfield, Tai continued along the basepaths to allow Arroyo to hustle to home plate and score. Peete himself would eventually come home to score as Montes hit a sacrifice fly to right field to continue adding to his RBI total early into the minor league season.
Everett AquaSox infielder Michael Arroyo slides head first into second base during his teams eventual home loss to the Hillsboro Hops on Tuesday, April 8th, 2025 at Funko Field. (Photo by Shari Sommerfeld for the Everett AquaSox)
The home run barrage would continue as outfielder Carson Jones knocked a 375-foot, two-run blast to left center field in the bottom of the fourth to cushion Everett’s lead at 6-2. The scoring concluded for the AquaSox at that point of the night, unfortunately, and Hillsboro rallied for five unanswered runs in the top of the seventh inning to take the lead and ultimately secure victory. Singles by Ryan Waldschmidt and Jansel Luis both drove in a single run each for the Hops before a Ben McLaughlin homer tacked on three-runs for Hillsboro.
From the mound, Payero threw 4.1 innings of two-run baseball, tallying four strikeouts. Elijah Dale added 1.2 scoreless innings and a strikeout, Gabriel Sosa added one shutout inning and University of Washington alum Stefan Raeth was given the loss for giving up two hits, two runs, and that McLaughlin homer besides three strikeouts through an inning and two thirds of work.
What’s next?
Our Everett AquaSox return to action against the Hillsboro Hops for game two of the six-game series at 7:05PM PDT Wednesday, April 9th. Right-handed pitcher Shaddon Peavyhouse will throw for the AquaSox, making his first start of the season coming off a year in 2024 where he had a record of 4-9, an ERA of 5.75, a 1.67 WHIP, and 82 strikeouts in 83 innings pitched. Hillsboro will have 24-year old right hander Logan Clayton on the mound for his second start of the season, trying to get a bounce back effort after his April 4th effort where he gave up three hits, four runs (three earned), and one walk in just two thirds of an inning. The main gates open at 6:05, and season ticket holder gates open at 5:30. The promotion for this Everett game includes HomeStreet Bank $5.00 Wednesday, stop by participating HomeStreet Bank locations to receive a coupon for a $5.00 Upper Reserved ticket redeemable at the Funko Field Box Office as well as Pick up your Baseball Bingo card at the Sam's Cats and Dogs Fan Information Booth every Wednesday Home game and play along!
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Check out our previous Everett AquaSox articles here
Check out our previous CSS Futures articles here
Check out our previous articles with writing by Charles Hamaker here.
Cover photo and photos in this article by Shari Sommerfeld from the Everett AquaSox
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