Virahonda Delivers Walk-Off Single as Hops Outlast AquaSox in 12-Inning Thriller

Hillsboro, Or (July 31, 2026)- Carlos Virahonda delivered one of the biggest swings of Hillsboro's season Friday night, dropping a bloop RBI single into shallow right field in the bottom of the 12th inning to give the Hops a 3-2 walk-off victory over the Everett AquaSox at Hops Ballpark. The win came in Hillsboro's 100th game of the season and handed Everett its ninth extra-inning loss in as many tries this year. The Hops erased an early two-run deficit before their pitching staff slammed the door, combining for 14 strikeouts and nine scoreless innings after Everett's third-inning rally.

Everett struck first in the third when Carter Dorighi walked, stole second and eventually scored on Ricardo Cova's infield single. A throwing error by Wellington Aracena on the play allowed Cova to advance, and after a wild pitch and another walk loaded the inning with traffic, Korbyn Dickerson lined an RBI single to right to make it 2-0.

Hillsboro answered immediately in the bottom of the fourth. Slade Caldwell started the rally with a single before José Mejía followed with a base hit. Carlos Virahonda drew a walk to load the bases, setting the stage for JD Dix. The designated hitter shot a ground ball into left field, scoring Caldwell and Mejía to tie the game at 2-2. Carlos Jimenez threw Dix out trying to stretch the hit into a double, but the damage had already been done.

That score remained unchanged for the next seven innings despite opportunities for both clubs.

After Patrick Forbes opened the game with a scoreless first inning, Aracena settled in after the rocky third, allowing two runs over five innings while striking out five. Rocco Reid inherited trouble in the seventh and escaped unscathed by striking out the side before tossing two scoreless innings.

Luke Dotson was outstanding in extras, striking out three over 2.2 scoreless innings while escaping jams in both the 10th and 11th. Alexis Liebano recorded the final out of the 12th, striking out Cova to earn his first victory of the season.

With Cunningham beginning the inning at second under the extra-inning rule, Everett turned to Casey Hintz after Christian Little worked two scoreless innings. Virahonda wasted no time, lining a soft fly ball that fell just in front of right fielder Anthony Donofrio, allowing Cunningham to race home with the winning run before a crowd of 3,719.

Virahonda finished 2-for-3 with a double, two walks and the game-winning RBI, while Dix drove in Hillsboro's first two runs. Caldwell, Mejía, Cunningham and Jakey Josepha each added a hit as the Hops totaled seven on the night. Everett stranded 13 runners and went just 2-for-17 with runners in scoring position. The AquaSox threatened repeatedly against Hillsboro's bullpen but could never find the timely hit.

Everett starter Colton Shaw allowed two runs over 5.1 innings before Reid Easterly and Christian Little combined for 4.2 scoreless frames to force extra innings. Hintz (3-3) took the loss after facing just one batter in the 12th.

The victory gave Hillsboro a memorable finish to game No. 100 of its season, while Everett's frustrating trend in extra innings continued, dropping the AquaSox to 0-9 in games that extend beyond nine innings.