If nobody else wants to do it, I'll start the thread.

 

@

When: 7:05 ET

Where: Dolphins Stadium

 

It's been more than two months since Dontrelle Willis has had a "W" next to his name in a box score. Will Friday's series opener with the Astros finally be the D-Train's return to the win column?

 

Since beating the Cubs on May 29, Willis is 0-7 with a 5.09 ERA in his last 11 starts. He's pitched better than his record indicates, having allowed four earned runs or fewer in all but one of those outings. But a combination of mistimed hits and poor run support has saddled Willis with the longest winless streak of his career.

 

Willis is 3-1 with a 2.36 ERA in six career starts against the Astros, but he's 2-7 with a 5.64 ERA at Dolphin Stadium in 12 starts this season.

 

Houston will counter with a pitcher who's been as hot as Willis has been cold -- its ace, Roy Oswalt. The right-hander has allowed one earned run over 13 innings in his last two starts, picking up a pair of wins to improve his record to 10-6. He's 4-2 with a 1.92 ERA in eight career starts against the Fish.

 

The Astros took two games from Florida in Houston on April 16 and 17. Oswalt allowed one run in 6 1/3 innings to win the second game of that set.

 

 

Pitching matchup

 

FLA: LHP Dontrelle Willis (7-10, 4.95 ERA)

Willis was in line to have his career worst seven-game losing streak snapped. But the bullpen couldn't preserve a ninth-inning lead in San Francisco, so the D-Train settled for a no-decision. Willis threw seven strong innings, giving up two runs (one earned), but he remains out of the win column. His last victory came on May 29 against the Chicago Cubs. Just as disheartening is the fact that the Marlins have lost the last four times Willis has taken the mound.

 

HOU: RHP Roy Oswalt (10-6, 3.63 ERA)

 

Oswalt had one of his best performances of the year in his last outing against the Padres on July 28, holding San Diego to one unearned run over seven innings. The Padres jumped on him for two hits and an unearned run in the first inning, but he settled down after the shaky start, retiring 19 of the next 21 batters. Oswalt has allowed one earned run over his last three outings, including two starts and one relief appearance. He faced Florida earlier this year in Houston, earning the win after limiting the Marlins to one run over 6 1/3 innings.

 

 

On television

? FSN-HD

 

On radio

? WQAM 560, WQBA 1140 (Espa?ol)

I guess everybody went out to the game tonight.

hopefully we can get some offense going!!

I missed the first two innings, but nice to see Train pitching well.

Hammah just missed one.

Note: Fredi subbed that swing for Cody Ross' defense in a one run game last night.

Hermida!!!

And Homerun Hermida!

DTrain looking good through 5 no runs PC at 60, and he's still here.

Wow, the D-Train is rolling back!

I seriously can't imagine our rotation without him with the woes of the Rookie Four.

Awesome game threads lately.

Ty Wigginton owns us

What a huge K by Dontrelle

Whew, that probably missed, but all night long Oswalt has been given inches on the inside corner.

Damnit

Two seconds after the Astros go ahead.

Wrong time to play the 'we need a retractable roof stadium' card, T-Hutt.

Ugh go figure

 

http://www.accuweather.com/radar-state.asp...=0&site=FLS

 

 

Radar doesn't look to wonderful

Cmon, Hanley.

Hanley is a sex god

Cmon, Miguel.

That was a crushable pitch.

That was a crushable pitch.

 

He knows it too.

The pitch was a strike.

Well this is a jam