Mets’ Pete Alonso move pays off immediately

PHILADELPHIA — After watching his lineup stagnate on the last homestand, Mickey Callaway decided Friday that his slugging first baseman could benefit the team by setting up others.

That meant inserting Pete Alonso in the No. 2 hole against the Phillies, with Michael Conforto and J.D. Davis behind him. Alonso had previously been batting third.

Alonso responded by delivering three hits — all singles — in the Mets’ 11-5 victory at Citizens Bank Park. Alonso singled to begin the Mets’ five-run eighth and again in a five-run ninth.

“We are just trying to mix it up,” Callaway said before the game. “Obviously we haven’t been scoring runs the way we would like to so we figured mix it up a little bit and see if [Alonso] can get on base for some of the others to drive him in.”

Alonso has reached base in 25 straight games, the longest active streak in the major leagues.

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The Mets have given special assistant Ruben Amaro Jr. permission to pursue other jobs. Amaro, who served last season as the team’s first base coach, has an offer for an unspecified role within the organization if he chooses to return. A club source confirmed that the Mets’ pro scouting director, Jim D’Aloia, will not be retained for next season.

Jason Vargas is scheduled to pitch Saturday in his first start against the Mets since the trade that sent him to Philadelphia. In five starts with his new team, Vargas is 0-1 with a 4.34 ERA. In a salary dump that will save them about $2 million, the Mets received a non-prospect, catcher Austin Bossart, in the deal.

Vargas’ replacement in the Mets’ rotation, Marcus Stroman, will pitch Sunday night against the Phillies.

Wilson Ramos (1-for-3) came off the bench to extend his career-best 23-game hitting streak. René Rivera (0-for-2) started behind the plate for Zack Wheeler.

Ramos already had extended his hitting streak once this week in a pinch-hitting role. Moises Alou holds the franchise record with a 30-game hitting streak in 2007.

Jeurys Familia entered play 2-1 with a 1.59 ERA and 14 strikeouts in his 11 appearances since Aug. 5. The right-hander had consecutive scoreless appearances against the Cubs.

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