Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Cal Quantrill delivers during the first inning of the Little League Classic baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels at Bowman Stadium in Williamsport, Pa., Sunday, Aug. 22, 2021. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
The Associated Press
WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (AP) - Cal Quantrill pitched two-hit ball over seven innings, Amed Rosario launched an early homer and the Cleveland Indians beat the Los Angeles Angels 3-0 in the Little League Classic on Sunday night.
As the rain held off, youngsters in town for the Little League World Series were able to enjoy the festivities. Kids rushed to the stands for ice cream and sweets, popping inflatable thunder sticks in excitement for each big league at-bat.
'œIt was almost more nerve-wracking throwing for a bunch of pre-teens than it is regularly,'ť Quantrill joked. 'œBut this is a really cool event and getting to play in front of these kids - they took a little time out of their schedule playing games, and coming to watch us play is pretty cool.'ť
Angels two-way star Shohei Ohtani facetimed fans on ESPN's 'œKidscast'ť from the dugout, and Little Leaguers inched closer to the protective netting to watch his first at-bat.
Ohtani ripped a single to the delight of the crowd at Historic Bowman Field, which opened in 1926.
Indians pitcher Triston McKenzie tossed baseballs into the stands to Little Leaguers and parents alike throughout the game. Fans often cheered the Cleveland dugout for the generosity.
DJ Yoshi invited young fans into the stands to spin the turntables, with several tunes reverberating through the crowd.
Rosario, who had three hits, belted a two-run homer off starter José Suarez (5-7) in the first inning.
Rosario often got involved in bantering back and forth with the kids in attendance. It was a way for him to stay loose throughout the game.
'œGetting to spend time with them is a good memory,'ť Rosario said through a translator. 'œI've reflected on when I was that age, but among other things, it was when I played lighter.'ť
Austin Hedges doubled in the fourth and scored on an RBI groundout by Myles Straw.
Cleveland outscored the Angels 17-2 in a three-game sweep that got the Indians back to .500 at 61-61.
Quantrill (4-2) struck out nine and walked two. Bryan Shaw entered with the bases loaded in the eighth and got David Fletcher to ground into an inning-ending double play.
Emmanuel Clase worked the ninth for his 18th save.
Suarez allowed three runs and six hits in four innings.
'œHe just didn't have (one of) his better nights I think,'ť Angels manager Joe Maddon said. 'œHe was getting behind in a lot of counts, his fastball velocity didn't have that consistent life to it. I thought he threw some good changeups before we took him out, good sliders. But overall, he could just never get into a rhythm.'ť
COMFORT ZONE
Rosario has 53 hits since the All-Star break, second-most in the American League. The 25-year-old shortstop entered the game batting .341 in the second half after hitting .259 in the first half.
'œHe's had an interesting year in a sense, but I think once he got comfortable, Tito (manager Terry Francona) put him in that 2-slot and just left him there,'ť Indians interim manager DeMarlo Hale said. 'œI think he's just gotten comfortable and he's played the game for a number of years at this level. So, it's nothing surprising for me, but I think he's comfortable and he's playing the game at a certain level that we expect. That's what we preach to them as a team.'ť
TRAINER'S ROOM
Angels: RHP José Marté was placed on the injured list for unspecified reasons, and RHP James Hoyt was recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake.
Indians: RHP Aaron Civale pitched two scoreless innings at Double-A Akron as he tries to return from a sprained finger. Civale was leading the AL with 10 wins when he got hurt in June.
LOOKING AHEAD
Major League Baseball announced that the Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles will play in next year's Little League Classic at Historic Bowman Field on Aug. 21, 2022. The event will serve as a home game for the Orioles.
Those teams were scheduled to play in the 2020 Little League Classic, but it was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
UP NEXT
Angels: RHP Dylan Bundy (2-9, 6.04 ERA) faces his former team Tuesday when Los Angeles opens a three-game series at Baltimore. RHP Spenser Watkins (2-5, 5.63) pitches for the Orioles, who have lost 18 straight - the longest skid in the majors since Kansas City dropped 19 in a row in 2005.
Indians: RHP Eli Morgan (2-5, 5.80 ERA) starts Tuesday at home against Texas lefty Taylor Hearn (2-4, 3.97) in the opener of a three-game series.
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Los Angeles Angels' David Fletcher (22) poses for a selfie with a Little League team participating in the Little League World Series in attendance at the Little League Classic baseball game between the Cleveland Indians and the Los Angeles Angels at Bowman Stadium in Williamsport, Pa., Sunday, Aug. 22, 2021. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
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Los Angeles Angels' Shohei Ohtani warms up as Little Leaguers from Hamilton, Ohio, in red, watch before the Little League Classic baseball game against the Cleveland Indians at Bowman Stadium in Williamsport, Pa., Sunday, Aug. 22, 2021. (AP Photo/Tom E. Puskar)
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Cleveland Indians' Amed Rosario hits a two-run home run off Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Jose Suarez during the first inning of the Little League Classic baseball game at Bowman Stadium in Williamsport, Pa., Sunday, Aug. 22, 2021. (AP Photo/Tom E. Puskar)
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Los Angeles Angels left fielder Justin Upton watches as a two-run home run hit by Cleveland Indians' Amed Rosario clears the left field fence, off starting pitcher Jose Suarez during the first inning of the Little League Classic baseball game at Bowman Stadium in Williamsport, Pa., Sunday, Aug. 22, 2021. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
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Cleveland Indians relief pitcher Emmanuel Clase, left, celebrates with catcher Austin Hedges after getting the final out of a 3-0 win over the Los Angeles Angels in the Little League Classic baseball game at Bowman Stadium in Williamsport, Pa., Sunday, Aug. 22, 2021. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
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The Cleveland Indians dugout and the Little League team from Toms River, N.J., top right, watch as Los Angeles Angels' David Fletcher bats during the first inning of the Little League Classic baseball game at Bowman Stadium in Williamsport, Pa., Sunday, Aug. 22, 2021. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
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Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Jose Suarez delivers during the first inning of the Little League Classic baseball game against the Cleveland Indians at Bowman Stadium in Williamsport, Pa., Sunday, Aug. 22, 2021. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
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Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred, center, hands out pins to the Little League team from Hamilton, Ohio during the Little League Classic baseball game between the Cleveland Indians and the Los Angeles Angels at Bowman Stadium in Williamsport, Pa., Sunday, Aug. 22, 2021. The Indians won 3-0. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
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Cleveland Indians' Amed Rosario (1) rounds third after hitting a two-run home run off Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Jose Suarez (54) during the first inning of the Little League Classic baseball game at Bowman Stadium in Williamsport, Pa., Sunday, Aug. 22, 2021. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
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Cleveland Indians' Amed Rosario (1) celebrates as he rounds third after hitting a two-run home run off Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Jose Suarez during the first inning of the Little League Classic baseball game at Bowman Stadium in Williamsport, Pa., Sunday, Aug. 22, 2021. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
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Cleveland Indians' Franmil Reyes' (32) bat shatters at on pop up to the second baseman against the Los Angeles Angels in the eighth inning of the Little League Classic baseball game at Bowman Field in Williamsport, Pa., Sunday, Aug. 22, 2021. Cleveland won the game 3-0. (AP Photo/Tom E. Puskar)
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Los Angeles Angels right fielder Jo Adell (7) makes a diving attempt on a ball hit by Cleveland Indians' Austin Hedges in the fourth inning of Little League Classic baseball game at Bowman Field in Williamsport, Pa., Sunday, Aug. 22, 2021. Cleveland won the game 3-0. (AP Photo/Tom E. Puskar)
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Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Cal Quantrill delivers during the first inning of the Little League Classic baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels at Bowman Stadium in Williamsport, Pa., Sunday, Aug. 22, 2021. (AP Photo/Tom E. Puskar)
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Cleveland Indians' Amed Rosario (1) celebrates after rounding third base after hitting a two-run home run off Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Jose Suarez, left, during the first inning of the Little League Classic baseball game at Bowman Stadium in Williamsport, Pa., Sunday, Aug. 22, 2021. (AP Photo/Tom E. Puskar)
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