April 25, 2006
BY ASSOCIATED PRESS
Dontrelle Willis' perfect April record was ruined by a rookie.
Willis lost for the first time in April, with Sean Marshall pitching seven
scoreless innings on a cold night to lead the Chicago Cubs over the Florida
Marlins 3-1 Tuesday.
He (1-1) allowed three runs, five hits and three walks in seven innings,
striking out six. He had been 9-0 with a 2.20 ERA in 14 April starts.
Willis wasn't left pondering about the loss.
"I wasn't aware of that. I'm not too big of a stat guy," he said.
The pitcher also began the night 2-0 with a 1.01 ERA in four starts at
Wrigley Field. He was selected by the Cubs in the eighth round of the 2000
amateur draft, then was traded to the Marlins in May 2002 as part of a deal that
brought pitchers Antonio Alfonseca and Matt Clement to Chicago.
"Dontrelle is a winner. You watch Dontrelle pitch and you understand why
he's successful," Marlins manager Joe Girardi said. "He does all the
things that you have to do. He does everything right and everything he takes to
be a winner."
Marshall (2-0) allowed two hits, struck out seven and walked two in his
fourth career start.
"You can tell the way Dontrelle was dealing he wasn't going to give up
many runs, and Sean Marshall matched him and threw a great ballgame," Cubs
manager Dusty Baker said.
Ryan Dempster pitched a perfect ninth to complete the five-hitter. It was his
sixth save this year and his 25th straight save conversion dating to July 24.
The gametime temperature was 39 degrees, and the wind was blowing in at 18
mph, but an announced crowd of 38,680 came to Wrigley Field.
"They hit some balls on the nose. The elements were with us
tonight," Baker said. "This is sort of strange. You think spring is
here, then winter shows back up again, I guess that is Chicago; you've just got
to deal with it," Baker said.
Marshall didn't allow a hit until Chris Aguila singled with one out in the
fifth, then got Reggie Abercrombie to hit into an inning-ending double-play. The
6-foot-7 left-hander, using a big curveball to fool the Marlins hitters, struck
out the side in the sixth.
"My breaking ball was probably my top pitch tonight. It's been awhile
since I have been able to control it and command it like that," he said.
Matt Murton's RBI single put the Cubs ahead in the fourth following a leadoff
walk by Aramis Ramirez. Murton added a run-scoring double in the seventh and
scored on a squeeze bunt by Jerry Hairston Jr., sliding home ahead of Willis'
throw.
Dan Uggla hit an RBI single off Bobby Howry in the eighth.
Notes: Willis struck out former teammate Juan Pierre leading off the
first inning. It was the first time he faced Pierre in his career. Pierre was
0-for-3 against Willis. ... Cubs RHP Angel Guzman is to start against the
Marlins on Wednesday in his major league debut. ... Chicago C Michael Barrett
jammed his left middle finger sliding into second on a double in the seventh
inning.
Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved.
