Don’t mess with Brian Bannister during the day. He continues to pitch lights out under the sun. On Wednesday afternoon he outdueled young phenom Stephen Strasburg of Washington for a 1-0 win, ending the Royals five game losing streak.

First, Bannister because quite honestly, nobody expected him to win today. He had given up 17 runs, 14 earned in seven innings of interleague pitching against Cincinnati and Atlanta. However, today was different. He went six innings giving up five hits and two walks while striking out four. He had a look about him that he didn’t want to lose this game. He got a little help from the umps in the sixth when Adam Dunn singled to left and Jose Guillen’s throw appeared to be a little late, but Roger Bernandina was thrown out at the plate.

In the fifth inning, it was Guillen’s RBI single that provided the only run in the game when he drove in David DeJesus. Strasburg pitched six innings and struck out nine, giving him 41 in his first four starts. He also gave up nine hits as I thought the Royals did a good job of putting the ball in play by going to the opposite field.

Bannister improves to 7-5 and Strasburg will forever have Kansas City listed as his first loss. He is now 2-1 in four career starts.