Eaton, Ward Lift WooSox to Extra Innings Win in Norfolk
IL Worcester Red Sox

Eaton, Ward Lift WooSox to Extra Innings Win in Norfolk

Published on August 1, 2026 under International League (IL)
Worcester Red Sox News Release


Nate Eaton of the Worcester Red Sox homers
Nate Eaton of the Worcester Red Sox homers
(Worcester Red Sox)

NORFOLK, VA - Nate Eaton hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the top of the 10th inning and Braiden Ward made a leaping catch at the wall in center field with the tying run at third base to end the game as the Worcester Red Sox (55-47/19-12) topped the Norfolk Tides (37-68/9-21) 4-3 in extra innings on Saturday night at Harbor Park. With the win the WooSox reach a new high-water mark of eight games over .500 on the season and have won 10 of their last 11 contests.

For the fifth straight game this week at Harbor Park, the WooSox took the lead in the top of the 1st inning. Nate Eaton and Mikey Romero drew back-to-back one out walks against Norfolk starter Luis De Léon to put runners at first and second for Andrew Knizner who reached on a fielding error by Tides third baseman Jose Barrero, allowing Eaton to score from second to give the WooSox a 1-0 lead.

Barrero quickly atoned for his miscue, however, blasting a solo home run to left field off Worcester starter Alec Gamboa to tie the game at 1-1.

The WooSox quickly responded, taking the lead in the top of the 2nd. Kristian Campbell punched a single through the left side with one out and scored from first on a two-out double down the left field line by Franklin Arias to give the WooSox a 2-1 advantage.

The Worcester lead held until the bottom of the 7th inning when the Tides strung together back-to-back two-out hits to tie the game. With the bases empty Fernando Peguero lined a single to left center field and scored on a double to the same spot by Enrique Bradfield, Jr. to bring Norfolk even at 2-2.

With the game still tied 2-2 and Braiden Ward at second base as the ghost runner to start the top of the 10th, Eaton snapped an 0-for-17 skid with a two-run homer down the left field line to give the WooSox a 4-2 lead.

The Tides got a run in the bottom of the 10th on an RBI double by Barrero down the left field line with one out to score Peguero from third base to make it 4-3 and after a groundout, Ryan Noda hit a deep fly ball to center field that was caught by Ward scaling the wall to end the ballgame.

Hobie Harris (1-0) secured his first win of the season for the WooSox allowing an unearned run on one hit with two strikeouts over a season-high 2.0 innings. Left-hander Andrew Magno (0-3) surrendered the two-run shot to Eaton in the 10th and suffered the loss for Norfolk.

With a series win in hand, the WooSox will aim to take five of six at Harbor Park this week in the series finale on Sunday afternoon with first pitch scheduled for 1:05 pm. The WooSox will send left-hander Raymond Burgos (2-6, 5.95) to the mound to make his second start of the series, while right-hander Chris Bassitt (0-0, 2.70) makes his second rehab start of the week for Norfolk. Radio pregame coverage begins at 12:45 pm on the WooSox Radio Network.

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Nate Eaton of the Worcester Red Sox homers
Nate Eaton of the Worcester Red Sox homers
   



International League Stories from August 1, 2026


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