May 17, 200520 yr Yahoo! Sports Game Preview: Florida manager Jack McKeon told starter Dontrelle Willis before his last start that's he'd eventually lose a game. His young right-hander didn't seem to have been paying attention. Willis looks to become the first eight-game winner in the National League as the Marlins resume their three-game series with the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Willis has won all seven of his starts this season, including Wednesday's 2-1 win over the Houston Astros. Willis allowed one earned run and six hits in eight innings, the fifth time this season he has allowed one or fewer runs in a start. ``We won, that's the bottom line,'' Willis said. ``If we lose, 3-2, and I go eight, yeah, it's good for the stats. But that's a loss.'' Willis, who allowed a first-inning run for the first time this season, actually boosted his ERA from 1.07 to 1.08. He threw 48 pitches in the first two innings and 62 in the next six.  ``We talked about it before the game that one of these days he is going to lose a game,'' McKeon said. ``The way he started off, his control wasn't sharp. He got a couple of pitches up. I said to myself, 'This might be it.' Then all of a sudden, things came back into play. He relaxed and got back to being himself.'' Willis is the first Florida starter to open a season 7-0 since Livan Hernandez went 9-0 in 1997. ``He's just on a great roll,'' teammate Damion Easley said. ``No matter how many runs you give him, it always seems to be enough.'' Willis has had some troubles against the Dodgers. He has made one start against Los Angeles in each of the last two seasons, going 0-2 with a 15.43 ERA -- easily his worst ERA against any team. The Marlins snapped a season-high three-game losing streak with Monday's 6-2 win over the Dodgers. Miguel Cabrera and Juan Encarnacion each homered for Florida. Cesar Izturis went 2-for-5 with an RBI for the Dodgers, who have lost five of their last six games. Los Angeles has been outscored 35-11 in those five defeats. Stat of the Day: Jeff Conine vs. Derek Lowe (Career) .345BA 4RBI (29AB)
May 17, 200520 yr Niner should get another start. Â 10-29 against Lowe. 775430[/snapback]Â He will. I heard that Lowell won't start again until Wednesday.
May 17, 200520 yr I'm pumped for this game. Gonna change my dinner plans so I can see the quest for 8-0. Somebody be sure to bust out the Carlos Delgado Rally Notebook if needed.
