Late Castillo homer lifts Hops over AquaSox 6-5

Neyfy Castillo continued to swing a hot bat, collecting his fifth extra base hit in eight games. But none were bigger than his seventh inning homer which led Hillsboro to a 6-5 win over Everett on Thursday night, May 2, at Funko Field in Everett.

Castillo’s home run came with the bases loaded and two outs, with the Hops trailing 4-2.

Hillsboro took a two-run lead to the ninth, but reliever Kyle Amendt allowed two hits and a run on a Jared Sundstrom sacrifice fly, but got Ben Williamson swinging to end the game with the tying run just 90 feet away.

The Hops got two runs in the fourth inning off of a Jose Fernandez RBI-single coupled with a fielder’s choice on a groundball off the bat of Manuel Pena.

Everett got single runs in both the third and fourth innings before taking a 4-2 lead in the sixth on a Axel Sanchez two-RBI single, leading up to Castillo’s game-winning grand slam an inning later.

Avery Short got the start for the Hops and allowed three runs on five hits, while striking out four in 5.1 innings of work.

Brandyn Garcia started on the mound for the Sox, lasting five innings, allowing two earned runs on three hits while striking out six.

Castillo finished 1-for-3 with four RBI and two runs-scored, while Jack Hurley and Manuel Pena each tallied two hits apiece for Hillsboro.

Ben Williamson and Brock Rodden had two hits apiece for Everett who outhit the Hops in the game 8-7.

The two teams will face-off again at 1:05 p.m. in Everett.