Thanks Mando :thumbup

 

c/o MLB.com

 

Rejuvenated Willis baffles Bucs

Lefty tosses seven scoreless innings to end three-start skid

By Joe Frisaro / MLB.com

 

MIAMI -- As it turns out, reports of the D-Train's demise were a bit premature.

 

Rebounding from the roughest stretch of his young career, Dontrelle Willis veered back on track, tossing seven shutout innings in the Marlins' 3-0 victory over the Pirates in front of 19,621 at Dolphins Stadium.

 

Willis (14-6) gave up three hits while striking out seven, enabling the Marlins to take two of three in the series. The D-Train had dropped three straight decisions, giving up 23 runs over that span. He also had lost four of his last five starts. But with the victory, Willis matched his career-high wins total set when he was the National League Rookie of the Year in 2003.

 

In the midst of his slump, Willis worked on his mechanics with pitching coach Mark Wiley, slowing down his pace between pitches. The lefty also collected some advice from a former teammate, closer Armando Benitez, who is on the disabled list with the Giants.

 

After his loss in San Francisco last Friday, Benitez noted that Willis' arm angle had dropped.

 

"Benitez told me in San Francisco, 'Get your arm higher,'" Willis said.

 

Willis, Guillermo Mota and Todd Jones combined for the four-hitter, which also was the Marlins' ninth shutout this season. Jones logged his 18th save in 20 chances, and second in as many nights.

 

"We got the A-Train on track now," said manager Jack McKeon, who has converted calling Willis from the D-Train to A-Train. "The D-Train, that's history. He's the A-Train."

 

Known for twisting around names and nicknames, Willis brushed off the A-Train reference. "He can call me whatever he wants to call me. He's the skipper."

 

Kip Wells (6-11) was matching Willis' effectiveness until he gave up two runs in the seventh inning. The right-hander yielded four hits, but he suffered a tough loss.

 

After dropping the series opener on Tuesday, the Marlins ended up taking two of three from the Pirates. It was Florida's first series win over Pittsburgh since September 2003 in Miami. The Pirates had won eight of 10 prior to Thursday.

 

"No question it's a big game," McKeon said. "Here's a guy who had some problems for three games. He worked hard with [Wiley]. His problem is he wasn't tired, he just wasn't throwing strikes. Tonight he threw strikes and he throws another shutout."

 

Juan Encarnacion's RBI double snapped a scoreless tie in the seventh inning. Jeff Conine led off with a single, and went to second on Miguel Cabrera's shattered bat groundout to third. Wells then intentionally walked Paul Lo Duca, setting up Encarnacion's two-base hit down the line in left. Mike Lowell's sacrifice fly produced the second run.

 

In the eighth inning, the Marlins added some insurance on Cabrera's sacrifice fly off Brian Meadows. The run was unearned because Juan Pierre reached safely on first baseman Brad Eldred's error. Pierre chopped a grounder to short, and while Jack Wilson's toss to first was on target, Eldred's foot drifted off the bag.

 

Successive singles by Luis Castillo and Conine loaded the bases. Conine started at first base in place of Carlos Delgado, who is resting a sore left elbow. Delgado, who had an X-ray taken on Thursday, is expected to sit out Friday, but should be in the lineup on Saturday against the Nationals.

 

Willis worked out of trouble in the fourth and sixth innings, when the Pirates stranded runners at third. In the fourth, after Jason Bay's triple, the D-Train struck out Ryan Doumit looking to retire the side. And with two outs in the sixth, Bay's double put runners at second and third. Again with two outs, Willis got Eldred to pop out foul to short.

 

"About the third inning, he really found his rhythm and it was smooth sailing after that," McKeon said. "It was nice to see him find his rhythm. We wanted to get him out on a high note."

 

McKeon added that the Marlins rallied behind Willis, who so often has carried the club since breaking in as a 21-year-old two years ago.

 

"We didn't do much hitting for him tonight," McKeon said. "But that other pitcher had something to do with that. With him, the guys are into the game. He creates a lot of energy. In the dugout, guys are rooting for him. He does it for everybody else. That's what happens. He's just a positive force. He's just one of those guys who has a lot of enthusiasm."

 

In the three straight losses, Willis allowed 23 runs in 13 innings. His eight runs allowed to the Cubs and Phillies were a personal high for a game.

 

"They understand that I come every day with the same attitude," Willis said of having the backing of his teammates. "I don't come in here moping around. I'm cheering for everybody and they're cheering for me. This is a family atmosphere. That's how we won in '03 and that's how we will continue to win."

Armando has always seemed to me like a very nice person. I miss him.

Mando's awesome. I miss him too.

heh, he had his career year here... It got him a 21mil deal, so besides the being injured, its working out, glad too see he still talks to some teamates

Benitez was such a badass, wish he was still here... though with his current injury I guess I have to retract that statement :mischief .

No disrespect to the job Jwnz has done, but I'd love to have Armando here. Hell, we'd probably have both :mischief