For the Mets on Sunday, their hopes of a late-season sprint into an unforgettable autumn start in the birthplace of Little League.

The Mets beat the Mariners in the Little League Classic on Sunday night, getting a big three-run homer from Mark Vientos and a history-making stolen base from Juan Soto.

It’s times like these when all eyes shift to the person who is supposed to lead the turnaround and put everyone at ease.

Paul Blackburn said he just wanted to pitch “somewhere” when he was reinstated from the injured list Thursday. It seemed pretty clear then that the “somewhere” might not be in Flushing.

Nolan McLean provided the struggling Mets a much-needed lift on Saturday, tossing 5 1/3 scoreless innings in his major league debut as New York beat the Seattle Mariners 3-1. McLean (1-0) allowed two hits with four walks and struck out eight to help lift the Mets to just their third win in their last 17 games.

Just about everyone is out of ideas on how to fix the New York Mets. Frankie Montas was moved to the bullpen. Paul Blackburn has been DFA’d. The lineup has been

Seattle begins the series 1.5 back of the Astros for first place in the AL West, and are sitting 2.5 games up in the Wild Card race. One ray of hope for the Mets is that the Mariners have been substantially better at home than on the road, but at .500 away, they’re not exactly at an automatic disadvantage or anything of the like.

NEW YORK – Mariners manager Dan Wilson said he is looking forward to watching his team play in the Little League Classic against the Mets in Williamsport, Pa., on Sunday night.