By JOSEPH KELLARD
A devout Yankees fan growing up in Long Beach and now a starting pitcher with the Washington Nationals, Lannan threw a four-hitter against the Yankees in the Nationals� 3-2 win last Wednesday. �I thought the park was great,� he told Joe Benigno on his WFAN radio show the day after his Yankee Stadium debut. �It�s beautiful and is a great upgrade.�
As a boy, Lannan sat with his father along left field in the House that Ruth Built and cheered on his favorite players, Jeter, Don Mattingly and Bernie Williams. He attended most of the playoffs games in 1998 and 2000, when the Yankees won the World Series. Last week his family applauded him from their seats in the new stadium.
�My family was there, which made it more exciting,� Lannan said about pitching in front of 46,052 spectators. He noted that he had more ticket requests for last week�s game than for any he had pitched against the Mets, the Nationals� division rivals.
Lannan retired the first 13 of 14 Yankee batters before he gave up just four hits, the first a curve ball that Robinson Cano hit for a solo home run.
Lannan said he didn�t feel nervous until the ninth inning, when Johnny Damon led off with a home run. He retired Nick Swisher but then gave up a single to Mark Teixeira � and had to relinquish the ball to reliever Mike MacDougal, who got Cano to hit into a game-ending double play. �I was a little bummed that I didn�t go all nine,� Lannan admitted. �I was right there, it was right in my reach. But then I settled down and said this was a great night.�
A 2002 graduate of Chaminade High School in Mineola, Lannan is in his third season in the big leagues, though he plays for a team that is on pace to have the worst record in history.
Asked if it�s his dream to pitch for the Yankees one day, he said: �Well, I�m happy where I�m at right now, but it�s every kid�s dream to play for the home team. So whatever happens happens, but to play for a New York team would be great.�
Comments about this story? JKellard@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 213.
