vs.

 

 

 

-

Dontrelle Willis (7-5, 3.99) vs. Scott Erickson (0-0, 0.00)

 

 

 

07/18/2004 6:23 PM ET

D-Train hopes to keep rolling

Marlins (45-46) at Mets (46-45), 7:10 p.m. ET

By Joe Frisaro / MLB.com

 

 

The Mets seem to bring out the best in Marlins left-hander Dontrelle Willis.

 

Already 2-0 against New York this season, the D-Train is 5-0 lifetime vs. the Mets, and he's 1-0 with a 1.29 ERA at Shea Stadium.

 

After getting swept in three games in Pittsburgh, the Marlins dropped to under .500 for the first time since June 29, 2003, when they were 41-42.

 

Willis began the season 3-0 and didn't allow an earned run. Since then, he is 4-5 with a 4.91 ERA, allowing 46 earned runs in 84 1/3 innings.

 

The Marlins are encouraged by his last start, toppling the Mets at Pro Player Stadium on July 11. In 6 1/3 innings, the 22-year-old left-hander gave up two runs. Willis is working on refining his herky-jerky delivery, slowing down his tempo and slightly lowering his high leg kick.

 

The Marlins are 14-5 in Willis' road starts the past two seasons.

 

 

 

Players to Watch:(Credit: Joe Frisaro / Special to MLB.com)

• Mike Lowell belted his 21st home run Sunday. It was his 129th as a Marlin, tying a franchise high with Derrek Lee.
  
• Josh Willingham did a commendable job defensively in his first start at catcher on Sunday. Willingham also showed his power potential with his first big league home run, a drive to left-center off Oliver Perez. Willingham could see action behind the plate for his second straight game on Monday.
  
• Mike Piazza is 1-for-6 off Willis
  
• Cliff Floyd is 0-for-5 with three strikeouts off Willis.
  

Quotable:(Credit: Joe Frisaro / Special to MLB.com)

 

"I think we're better than scoring two runs a game. I don't think we're as good [offensively] as everyone predicted we might be. The fair comparisons are to last year's team. And I think that's unfair asking guys to replace other guys who had monster years. With the experience and everything. I don't think that's fair. Guys are actually doing OK with what they're doing."-- Lowell on the team slumping to under .500

 

 

 

Quick Hits:(Credit: Joe Frisaro / Special to MLB.com)

• Lenny Harris ended an 0-for-17 rut with a double in the eighth. It was the 185th career pinch-hit for Harris, extending his Major League record.
  
• Miguel Cabrera is recovering from a jammed right index finger that kept him out of Sunday's game. Most likely, Cabrera will not play on Monday either.
  
• Alex Gonzalez also was given Sunday off because of an aggravated left hamstring sustained on Saturday.
  
• The Mets have used 70 different batting orders this season.
  

On Television:

Marlins station: PAX

Mets station: FSN

 

On Radio:

Marlins station: Sports radio/WQAM 560 AM; WQBA 1140 AM Spanish

Mets station: FAN 660-AM

 

On Internet:

MLB.TV

Gameday Audio

 

On Webcast:

DT, Ramp, rferry, Cape, and Co...

 

 

 

DT's Prediction: We score more than 0 runs... :plain

 

 

 

• This thread will be locked 3 hours after the game has ended.
  

 

please win

I think this game turns the season around.

Cabs is out again. My guess is the lineup will look like this:

 

1 Pierre

2 Castillo

3 Lowell

4 Choi

5 Willingham

6 Conine

7 Gonzalez

8 Nunez

9 Willis

 

Hey at least Willis owns the Mets and Willis is in the lineup which means we have an extra bat! I hope that we quit batting Conine 5th! He can start as long as he quits batting in the 5 hole.

Nothing short of a sweep of this 2 game series will satisfy me.

 

We just have to keep focused, we have beat them before, and we will beat them again

My guess.

 

CF Pierre

2B Castillo

3B Lowell

LF Conine

RF Harris

1B Choi

C Treanor

SS Gonzalez

P Willis

My guess.

 

CF Pierre

2B Castillo

3B Lowell

LF Conine

RF Harris

1B Choi

C Treanor

SS Gonzalez

P Willis

464351[/snapback]

 

Batting Conine 4th is a joke and trust me, Willingham will be in the lineup whether it is in left or at catcher.

Will be at this game and tomorrow's game in full teal

Make sure to get out alive.

Will be at this game and tomorrow's game in full teal

464407[/snapback]

same here

I want to see the pimp in the lineup today...we need more Lenny Harris!!!

 

I will be at tomorrow's game in full teal also, with a Mets Suck shirt peaking out from my Cabs jersey...hope to see some of you there.

The Marlins will win. I guarantee it.

please win

464061[/snapback]

 

my feelings exactly

Any win, I don't care how they do it just get the damn job done

Make sure to get out alive.

464412[/snapback]

In the 2 previous games I went to at Shea, I only got yelled at in the second game. Of course, the Fish lost the first game so they were all a little more jovial so when the Mets lost, I started getting some suggestions on what I can do to myself :lol

with cabrera out...i hope we see a new 3 hole hitter

 

Choi or conine....better yet....Willingham :shifty

If we dont win this, im ready to load the glock and shoot myself.

Vamos Abraham! Domican power!

does anyone know the REAL line up?

does anyone know the REAL line up?

464808[/snapback]

 

Way to early dood... we'll know in a while...

Marlins

 

Pierre

Castillo

Lowell

Cabrera

Willingham

Choi

Conine

Gonzalez

Willis

 

 

Mets

 

Reyes

Matsui

Piazza

Spencer

Hidalgo

Wiggington

Cameron

Wilson

Erickson

I hope we strike gold with this lineup

I hate PAX...I don't see that channel too well, way too much static. Guess I'll be on the boards for tonights game then.

Guess I'll be on the boards for tonights game then.

464901[/snapback]

 

:thumbup

must win game. i hope we split wit the mets. sweep the phils 2 games,and sweep or win atleat 2 wit montreal. if we can do this we will be 6-1 or 5-2 next few games. good record.