Francisco Lindor, Mark Vientos, and Clay Holmes react to the Mets taking two of three games from the Mariners, their experience during the Little League Classic, and Vientos' big home run.

All it took was a trip to the Little League World Series, an offensive outburst against Seattle’s George Kirby and a solid start from Clay Holmes.

Under the lights at Bowman Field, the New York Mets and Seattle Mariners faced off in the 2025 edition of the MLB Little League Classic in front of every Little League World Series regional champion and fans from the county.

Nolan McLean opened eyes with 5.1 scoreless innings in his major league debut, and Francisco Lindor stayed hot at the dish as the Mets beat the Mariners, 3-1 As good as his stuff was, McLean also started a spectacular 1-4-3 double play in the third inning, adding another moment to a storybook debut

On Thursday, the Mets finally had things set up the way they wanted. Their starter, Kodai Senga, pitched into the sixth inning — something that hasn’t happened since last Wednesday, Aug. 6 — and handed the ball to right-hander Tyler Rogers, who turned the ball over to the set-up man, Ryan Helsley, with a 3-2 lead.

Carlos Mendoza, the Mets manager, was excited to see a Little League World Series team from his Venezuelan hometown.

But that lead did not last long for the Mariners, with the Mets tying the score at 1-1 after New York star shortstop Francisco Lindor launched a solo homer in the bottom of the first inning. Lindor got ahead of Mariners starter Luis Castillo right away with three straight balls before getting a strike and fouling a pitch for a 3-2 count.

New York Mets star Francisco Lindor has emerged as one of the clubhouse leaders over the last few years, especially last year, after helping the team turn around the season and make it to the postseas