Eaton first Clark County native to get World Series hit in 44 years

He goes 2-for-4 in Game 1 victory

Credit: Tim Warner

Credit: Tim Warner

Adam Eaton became the first Clark County native since Cincinnati Reds reliever Will McEnaney in 1975 to get a hit in the World Series on Tuesday.

Eaton, who played three seasons at Miami University, also became the first former RedHawks player to get a hit in the World Series.

» FAMILY STORY: Eaton’s parents ‘blessed’ to see him in World Series

Eaton, a 2007 Kenton Ridge graduate, went 2-for-4 with an RBI in Game 1, helping lead the Washington Nationals to a 5-4 victory against the Houston Astros in Houston.

It was the first World Series game in Nationals history.

“It's huge,” manager Dave Martinez told reporters after the game. “They waited a long time to get to this position. I'm super happy that I'm a part of it. We're elated to be here, really. The city, the fans, we've got the Capitals wearing helmets playing the game, they've got name tags up there with the big W on there. The city is going crazy.”

“Adam is the definition of a ballplayer,” Miami coach Danny Hayden said on Twitter. “He plays the game as fearless now as he did when he was in college, and I’m guessing his work ethic hasn’t changed much either. First one in, last one out, running hard out of the box every time, playing the game with a chip on his shoulder.”

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Eaton singled to left in the third. In the fifth, with the score tied 2-2, he singled to right to drive in the go-ahead run. The Nationals scored three runs in the fifth to take a 5-2 lead.

McEnaney went 1-for-5 in the 1975 World Series with the Reds. Prior to McEnaney, the last Clark County native to get a hit was another pitcher, Pittsburgh Pirates starter Harvey Haddix, who singled in Game 5 of the 1960 World Series.

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