Hops Finish Homestand in Style, Beat AquaSox 9-3 for Fourth Straight Win

Hillsboro, OR (August 2, 2026) - The Hillsboro Hops wrapped up their 12-game homestand on a high note Sunday afternoon, riding another balanced offensive performance to a 9-3 victory over the Everett AquaSox at Hops Ballpark. The win was Hillsboro's fourth straight and gave the Hops a series victory over Everett after winning the final four games. The top of the lineup led the way, as Slade Caldwell, José Mejía and Kayson Cunningham combined to go 7-for-13 with three doubles, six runs scored and four RBI.

Hillsboro wasted little time against Everett starter Walter Ford (0-9), scoring three times in the opening inning. Caldwell started the rally with a single before Mejía reached on an error. Cunningham lined an RBI double into right field to score Caldwell, Carlos Virahonda followed with a sacrifice fly to plate Mejía and Yassel Soler capped the inning with an RBI single for a quick 3-0 advantage.

The Hops doubled their lead an inning later. Kenny Castillo opened the second with a single and later advanced to third on a passed ball after Mejía singled. Cunningham delivered again, lining a single to right that scored both Castillo and Mejía. An error by right fielder Ricardo Cova allowed Cunningham to move into scoring position as Hillsboro built a 5-0 lead.

Everett got on the board in the third when Ricardo Cova singled home Aiden Taurek, but Hillsboro answered immediately in the fourth. Avery Owusu-Asiedu doubled into left before Castillo walked, and a wild pitch brought Castillo home after Owusu-Asiedu had moved to third. Mejía followed with an RBI single to make it 7-1.

The Hops added two more insurance runs in the sixth. Caldwell opened the inning with a double before Mejía drove him home with another two-base hit. After Virahonda was hit by a pitch, JD Dix lined an RBI single to right, extending the lead to 9-1.

While the offense continued to produce, Hillsboro's pitching staff kept Everett quiet for most of the afternoon. Mason Marriott cruised through the first two innings before running into trouble in the third. After allowing a walk and a hit, Luke Craig entered in relief and surrendered an RBI single before escaping the inning with the Hops still comfortably in front.

Kyle Ayers (5-4) took over in the fourth and provided exactly what Hillsboro needed. The right-hander tossed 5.2 innings, allowing just one run on five hits while striking out four to earn the victory. He retired nine of the final 11 hitters he faced before exiting with two outs in the ninth. Ayers had an ultra-rare three pitch inning in the eighth, retiring Cova, Ellis and Eike on consecutive pitches.

Everett made one final push in the ninth after Aiden Taurek singled ahead of Luis Suisbel's two-run homer to right-center off Teofilo Mendez, trimming the deficit to 9-3, but Mendez recorded the final out one batter later to secure the victory.

Mejía finished 3-for-5 with three runs scored, a double and two RBI, while Caldwell went 2-for-4 with a walk, two runs scored and a double. Cunningham added two hits, including a double, and drove in two runs. Hillsboro collected 12 hits overall and finished 6-for-14 with runners in scoring position.

Taurek had two of Everett's eight hits and scored twice, while Suisbel supplied the AquaSox offense with his 12th home run of the season, a two-run shot in the ninth.

The victory improved Hillsboro's momentum heading into its next road trip after closing its 12-game homestand with four consecutive wins. The Hops finished the afternoon with 12 hits, committed no errors and drew 4,112 fans to Hops Ballpark for the homestand finale.