WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — As the Mets ventured around the Little League complex early Sunday ahead of the Little League Classic, Mark Vientos hesitated. Was he going to slide down the infamous hill at Lamade Field?
It took some cajoling from the horde of Little Leaguers surrounding him (and a few Mets staffers), but eventually he did.
There was zero hesitation in Vientos’ swing 10 hours later, when he stepped to the plate vs. the Mariners and launched a three-run homer to right field, igniting the Mets’ offense en route to a 7-3 victory in the Classic.
The longball, which sent all Little Leaguers in attendance wild with excitement, left Vientos’ bat at 103.5 mph, soaring over the right-field wall, the ball urged along by an excited Sean Manaea in the ESPN broadcast booth at the time.
Vientos finished the night 2-for-3 with four RBIs, leading the Mets to their first win streak since their seven-game stretch from July 20-27.
Vientos had some help — and not just from the raucous cheers (and attempts at starting the wave) from the kids in the stands. Francisco Lindor and Francisco Alvarez each tallied three hits and an RBI apiece. Alvarez did exit following the seventh inning, after appearing to jam his right hand on second base while sliding in after he doubled.
Meanwhile on the mound, Clay Holmes allowed just one run on five hits and one walk over five innings, effectively shutting down the Mariners’ offense — with some help from his defense, of course.
