Marlins’ Willis Baffles the Astros
Dontrelle Willis stood in front of his locker without even a trickle of sweat on his brow or uniform.
He didn’t look the least bit tired after pitching the third complete game of his career in the Florida Marlins’ 5-2 victory over the Astros Wednesday night at Houston. In fact, Willis probably could have gone another nine innings.
“He was in complete control of the game except for one inning, and he got out of that,” Manager Jack McKeon said.
Willis pitched a six-hitter and Mike Lowell homered twice to lead the Marlins.
Coming off his first loss this season against the Dodgers last week, Willis (4-1) bounced back with a dominant performance against the National League’s top hitting team.
Willis’ herky-jerky delivery baffled the Astros, not surprising considering it was the first time Houston had faced the left-hander. The 2003 NL rookie of the year walked two and struck out one.
“When you’re trying to pick up his release, you just can’t get caught up in the motion,” said Craig Biggio, who finished 0 for 4. “There’s always a couple in the guys in the league that are like that and they’re tough to hit.”
Lowell’s second towering shot to left field in the sixth inning was the go-ahead run and Jeff Conine followed with a run-scoring single to give the Marlins a 3-1 lead.
San Francisco 4, Philadelphia 3 -- Jason Schmidt (3-2) homered and gave up six hits over eight innings to lead the Giants at San Francisco.
Pedro Feliz homered twice and Jeffrey Hammonds also connected for the Giants, who ended Philadelphia’s season-high four-game winning streak.
Barry Bonds failed to reach base for the first time in 31 games this season, going 0 for 4 with two fly-ball outs and two groundouts.
Randy Wolf (2-3), who had given up only two earned runs in his previous 27 2/3 innings, gave up four runs and seven hits in six innings. He is winless in four games at San Francisco but is 3-0 against the Giants at Philadelphia.
Schmidt led off the third inning with the third homer of his career for a 2-1 lead.
San Diego 2, Cincinnati 1 -- Brian Giles hit a two-run homer in the first inning and the Padres made the most of their six hits at San Diego.
Cory Lidle (2-3) pitched efficiently once he got out of the first inning, but by then he trailed, 2-0, after giving up Mark Loretta’s one-out double and Giles’ homer to right-center field on the next pitch.
Giles’ sixth homer was enough to give Brian Lawrence (5-2) his third consecutive victory.
St. Louis 5, Atlanta 2 -- Matt Morris gave up two runs and six hits in eight innings, helping the host Cardinals beat the Braves for their third consecutive victory.
Morris (4-3) defeated the Braves for the first time in six career decisions.
So Taguchi and Jim Edmonds each homered for St. Louis. Atlanta got a two-run homer from J.D. Drew but lost for the sixth time in seven games.
Milwaukee 4, Montreal 3 -- Lyle Overbay of the Brewers extended his hitting streak to a season-high 13 games with a two-run double at Milwaukee.
Overbay’s hit came during a four-run sixth inning that erased a 3-0 deficit.
Wes Obermueller (2-1) gave up three runs and five hits in six innings and Dan Kolb earned his seventh save in as many chances.
Pittsburgh at Colorado, ppd. -- The game was postponed because of rain and snow at Denver and will be made up today in a doubleheader.
