Springfield’s Eaton plays key role in Game 7 as Nationals win World Series for the first time

» GAME 6: Eaton clutch again for Nationals

Eaton, a 2007 Kenton Ridge graduate who played three seasons at Miami University, went 1-for-4 with a walk in the final game of his eighth season in the big leagues. He walked with one out in the eighth, stole second and scored on a single by Juan Soto as the Nationals extended their lead to 4-2.

In the ninth, Eaton singled with the bases loaded to score the final two runs of the games. He finished the series with a .320 average, .433 on-base percentage, two home runs, five runs scored and six RBIs. Soto was the only Nationals player with a better average (.333) and on-base percentage (.438) in the series.

» EARLIER COVERAGE: Eaton 'scraping and clawing' | Eaton's parents traveling to watch him play | Eaton motivated by failure

Eaton became the sixth Clark County native to play in the World Series. He followed: Jiggs Donahue (1906 Chicago White Sox); Harvey Haddix (1960 Pittsburgh Pirates); Will McEnaney (1975 and 1976 Cincinnati Reds); Rick White (2000 New York Mets); and Hermanson (2005 White Sox).

Eaton joined Donahue, Haddix, McEnaney and Hermanson on the list of Clark County natives who won the World Series.

» PHOTOS: Eaton through the years

Eaton, 30, was a 19th-round pick in the 2010 draft. He made his big-league debut with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2012, was traded to the Chicago White Sox on Dec. 10, 2013, and then dealt to the Nationals on Dec. 7, 2016. He’s a career .285 hitter with 56 home runs.

The Nationals won the World Series for the first time. They became the first team to win the World Series by winning four games on the road. Washington trailed 2-0 through six innings but scored six runs in the final three innings.