It’s a Power Display for Harlem, 9-3

Jeremy Lopez urged his cousin Javier to join his Little League team this summer. Good thing he did, because the two make a potent pair for Harlem, N.Y.

Jeremy Lopez hit two home runs, including a grand slam, and Javier hit a two-run homer as Harlem beat Clemmons, N.C., 9-3, Saturday in the opening game for both teams at the Little League World Series at South Williamsport, Pa.

Leading off in the third inning, Jeremy Lopez sent the first pitch over the wall in center field to give Harlem a 3-0 lead. In the fourth, he hit a pitch over the wall in left.

Jeremy was three for three with a walk. He singled to lead off the sixth and scored when cousin Javier hit a 240-foot home run to the hedge behind the center-field wall. Andrew Diaz had a two-run homer.

“This was beyond my expectations today in terms of how the bats were working,” Harlem Manager Morris McWilliams said. “The bats just came alive.”

Harlem received by far the most attention of any team before the tournament, because of accusations that the team used players from outside its district. But Little League exonerated the team earlier this week, saying all the players had complied with the rules.

Javier Lopez also pitched for Harlem, striking out 10 to earn the win. Alex Robinson (0-1) took the loss for Clemmons.

In other games, Louisville, Ky., beat Aptos, Calif., 4-1; Worcester, Mass., beat Webb City, Mo., 2-1; Venezuela beat Guam, 11-1; Japan beat Russia, 7-0; and Netherlands Antilles, beat Mexico, 10-1.

The championship game is next Sunday.