Brian Bannister got the better of the heralded Stephen Strasburg, handing the phenom his first loss as the Kansas City Royals edged the Washington Nationals, 1-0, on Wednesday.

Jose Guillen drove in the game’s lone run for the Royals, who snapped a five-game slide.

Strasburg (2-1) struck out nine and did not issue a walk in six innings, bringing his strikeout-to-walk ratio to a nifty 41-to-5 in 25 1/3 career frames. The 21-year-old right-hander allowed nine hits - five more than his previous career high.

Bannister (7-5) lasted six innings as well, allowing five hits and walking a pair while striking out four. The right-hander entered Wednesday’s contest having allowed 16 runs - 14 earned - in seven innings over his previous two outings.

Kansas City finally got to Strasburg in the fifth, stringing together three straight two-out hits, with Guillen’s single to right bringing home David DeJesus with the only run.

Robinson Tejeda struck out three in two innings before handing the ball to closer Joakim Soria, who worked the ninth for his 17th save.