Tuesday April 11, 2006: Mets at Nationals (RFK Stadium)

The Mets picked up their 1st road win and Brian Bannister pitched effectively, giving up only 3 hits over 7 innings to earn his 1st career victory in a 7-1 victory over Washington. Carlos Beltran cranked a 2-run homer in the 9th, went 2 for 4 and scored 2 runs. David Wright drove in his 10th run of the season and is tied for the 2nd most RBI in all of baseball so far. The highlight for me, I'm watching since I ordered the Extra Innings package for the season on Sunday.

Bannister definitely looked impressive in facing the Expos for the 2nd time in less than a week, especially since the veterans can pick up on a rookie pitcher the 2nd time around. Unlike his previous start, B40 didn't get himself into many jams, and his only mistake was a 7th inning home run by Alfonso Soriano. Bannister has definitely established that he's gotta stay fly as 20 of his 38 outs have come via the flyout, including 2 long ones to the track from Vidro yesterday. While he did not walk anyone on Tuesday and less than half his pitches have been called for balls, my main concern with Bannister at the moment has been control, more specifically, establishing himself early in the count. Several times in his first 2 starts, he's fallen behind 2-0 and 3-0. Now, the good pitchers can work themselves out of those jams and break those habits, however, the best hitters can recognize a pitcher's weaknesses and run him ragged. That being said, I do have the confidence in him and Rick Peterson that B40 will shake the habit.

Unlike Bannister's start last Wednesday, the bullpen secured the win, although it didn't come without some tense moments. Heilman is continuing to distance himself his shaky opening day performance with a perfect 8th inning and 1 strikeout. The unnerving moments came in the 9th as Willie Randolph brought Billy Wagner in to get some extra work and build up his confidence. Well, he was half-right. Wagner walked the bases loaded, threw 32 pitches (half of which for balls), but struck out Ryan Zimmerman to end the game, a little retrobution if you will for last Wednesday's game-tying homer. I'm doing my best not to panic, and I think that Billy just got into some trouble was b/c it wasn't a pressure-packed situation. I hope I'm right.

Tonight, the Mets will send Petey out against one of the men for which he was traded to Boston to, Tony Armas Jr. Hopefully, Pedro's in his " I'm not fuckin around today" mode after last week's incident. Jose Guillen, it's best you lay low for a while.

-JD