Mets rout Phillies in Williamsport

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — Amed Rosario had three hits and drove in three runs, and the New York Mets went from cheering on players in the Little League World Series to impressing the youngsters in an 8-2 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday night.

Jeff McNeil added a tworun single to back Jason Vargas (3-8) as the Mets claimed the second Little League Classic and prevented the Phillies from moving into first place in the NL East.

Carlos Santana hit a two-run homer for the Phillies, but Nick Pivetta (7-10) allowed six runs in 3 2/3 innings in Philadelphia’s seventh loss in 11 games.

Players and families from the 16 teams competing in the nearby LLWS packed into 2,500-seat Bowman Field, the 92-year-old home of the Phillies’ Class A affiliate in the New YorkPenn League.

The spotlight shined on New York’s Todd Frazier and Michael Conforto and Philadelphia’s Scott Kingery, who are among 54 players who reached the majors after playing in the LLWS.

“Pretty surreal because I walked into the dugout and they were getting ready to play a game and one of them was like, ‘Whoa, that’s Scott Kingery!’” said the rookie infielder, who doubled in the fifth. “That’s crazy, because I remember when I was sitting in that dugout.”

Frazier, who sparked a four-run second with a leadoff single, is remembered for leading Toms River, New Jersey, to the 1998 title when he led off the game with a home run and struck out the final batter.

“It’s been a long day, but well worth it,” said Frazier.