preGame: Mets at Nationals (Game One)
The Game…
The Mets (4–1) travel down to Washington, DC, to take on the Nationals (2–5) for the first of a three-game series starting this afternoon at 1:00 p.m…
The Pitchers…
RHP Brian Bannister (0–0, 4.50 ERA) starts for the Mets … Last week against the Nationals, in his first major-league start, Bannister did not allow a hit in his first 5.1 innings pitched … Overall he allowed three runs on two hits in six innings of work … Brian’s younger brother, Brett, is currently playing in the Mariners system…
RHP Ramon Ortiz (0–1, 10.80 ERA) takes the hill for the Nationals … Ortiz allowed six runs on ten hits while striking out one against the Mets last week in Shea … Carlos Delgado is batting .400 in 30 career at-bats against Ortiez, while Carlos Beltran is just 4–for-23 …
The Lineup…
1. Jose Reyes
2. Paul Lo Duca
3. Carlos Beltran
4. Carlos Delgado
5. David Wright
6. Cliff Floyd
7. Xavier Nady
8. Anderson Hernandez
9. Brian Bannister
The Notes…
This is the first time the Mets have started a season as 4–1 since 1998…
The Nationals have homered at least once in six straight games…
OF Carlos Beltran has five RBI, five walks and seven runs scored in the last five games – he is batting just .177 on the young season…
In Washington’s two wins, they are batting .450 with runners in scoring position, compared to .160 in their five losses…
SS Jose Reyes has 8 hits in his last 18 at-bats, along with five runs scored, a homer, two stolen bases, a double and triple…
These three games against the Mets are Washington’s only home games during it’s first 16 games of the season…
3B David Wright has hit safely in all five games this season…
Nationals RHP Chad Cordero has not allowed a run to the Mets in 18.2 career innings pitched, while going 8–for-8 in save opportunities…
In two appearances against the Nationals in RFK last season, while pitching for the Dodgers, RHP Duaner Sanchez allowed four runs in 2.1 innings pitched…
The Bleachers…
To chat during the game, go to MetsBlog’s Bleachers … or, to access the chat room through IRC, go to server name irc.echo34.com and channel #metsblog…
…enjoy…
