HOUSTON -- The first pitch Tarik Skubal threw in the 2026 World Baseball Classic … Nate Eaton took him deep.
With Great Britain facing the back-to-back reigning Cy Young Award winner, who was making his one start of the WBC for Team USA on Saturday night, Eaton crushed the first pitch of the game over the high wall in left-center field at Daikin Park to give the Brits an instant 1-0 lead.
Eaton's big swing, off arguably the most dominant pitcher in baseball, stunned a loud, pro-U.S. crowd in Houston.
It was the second straight game that the United States surrendered a leadoff home run to open the 2026 Classic. Brazil's Lucas Ramirez -- son of Manny -- homered off Logan Webb in Team USA's first game on Friday.
Eaton, who's played three big league seasons for the Royals and Red Sox, had even said before the game that he wasn't afraid to step into the batter's box against a Cy Young ace.
"Throughout my career I've faced other ones," Eaton said. "So -- not taking anything from him, he's obviously great -- but I go about my routine and do my game planning the way I do."