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Early-season phenom Brian Bannister will look for his fifth quality start in as many tries this afternoon when the New York Mets visit the San Francisco Giants in the final test of a three-game series at AT&T Park.
Bannister, the 25-year-old son of former major-league pitcher Floyd Bannister, has allowed just 15 hits and six runs in 23 innings over his four previous appearances. He's given up one run in each of the last three, including a four-hit effort over five innings on April 21 at San Diego.
The 6-foot-2, 202-pounder has never faced the Giants, but is 2-0 on grass fields and 1-0 on the road in his young career. In 12 innings away from home, he's surrendered just seven hits and two runs while compiling a 1.50 earned run average.
Veteran right-hander Jason Schmidt is still searching for a 2006 groove, having been touched for seven hits and five runs over seven innings in a no- decision against Colorado on April 21.
The 33-year-old has gone at least six innings in all four starts, but has also given up at least four runs in three of them. He was 12-7 with a 4.40 ERA through an injury marred 2005 season, one year after earning Cy Young votes with an 18-7 mark and a 3.20 ERA in 2004.
Lifetime against the Mets, Schmidt is 4-5 with a 4.26 ERA in 17 appearances - 16 starts.
On Tuesday, Steve Trachsel tossed six solid innings and Cliff Floyd hit a two- run homer as the Mets downed the Giants, 4-1.
Xavier Nady also homered and Paul LoDuca knocked in the other run for the Mets, who snapped a two-game losing skid. Trachsel (2-1) conceded just one run on three hits to pick up the win.
Barry Bonds homered in the second inning to provide the only offense for the Giants, who have lost two of their last three games.
Jamey Wright (2-1) was saddled with the loss as he allowed four runs on 10 hits in eight innings of work.
However, Bonds tied the game at 1-1 in the second as he led off the inning with an opposite-field homer, his second of the season and 710th of his career, leaving him four homers shy of Babe Ruth for second on the all-time list.
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