Mets slam Orioles

Rookie Brian Bannister pitched four scoreless innings, and David Wright and Cliff Floyd each drove in three runs during a nine-run third as the New York Mets beat the Baltimore Orioles 11-4 Tuesday.

Bannister, the son of former major-leaguer Floyd Bannister, allowed a second-inning by Chris Gomez, his only runner. Bannister has pitched nine straight scoreless innings.

"My changeup is still my pitch in development," he said. "We threw some effective ones (Tuesday).

"It's not my go-to pitch or my two-strike pitch. My bread and butter is still back and forth with the cutter and fastball, then finishing guys with the curveball."

Bannister was a combined 13-5 last season at Triple-A Norfolk and Double-A Binghamton.

"I like what I've seen from him all spring, actually," Mets manager Willie Randolph said. "He threw the ball well, and I like the way he carries himself. If he continues to pitch well, he obviously has a chance."

Orioles starter Erik Bedard gave up seven runs and six hits in 3 2-3 innings, throwing 70 pitches.

Wright opened the third with a homer and added a two-run single, and Floyd hit a three-run homer off Winston Abreu. Kaz Matsui hit a two-run single in the inning.