Currently: - Game info: 3:05 pm EDT Sun Jul 11, 2004
- TV: WPIX, WPXM
Florida starter Dontrelle Willis has dominated the New York Mets during his short career.
He’ll look to keep that up as the Marlins and Mets wrap up the first half of their seasons in the finale of a three-game series at Pro Player Stadium.
Willis has faced the Mets four times in his two seasons in the majors, winning each start and posting a 0.64 ERA. He has allowed just two runs in 28 innings of work against New York.
Willis has already faced the Mets once this season, giving up one run and four hits in seven innings of a 2-1 victory on May 28. Since then, he has gone 1-2 with a 4.17 ERA in seven starts.
The left-hander allowed one run and five hits in six innings of Florida’s 6-3 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday, but did not receive a decision. The start, which was pushed back two days because of problems with his delivery, was his longest since a complete-game win over Detroit on June 13.
The outing also snapped a three-start slide in which Willis allowed 17 runs in 13 innings.
“We won, that’s it,” Willis said. “I did enough to keep us in the game, and we came out with the victory. That’s it.”
The Marlins beat Tom Glavine and the Mets 5-2 for just their third win in 10 games. Mike Lowell and Alex Gonzalez each had three hits, including a homer, for Florida.
Florida closer Armando Benetiz earned his 29th save in 31 chances, pitching two innings for just the second time this season. He struck out four and allowed just one baserunner, lowering his ERA to 1.00.
“He said, ‘I want two,’ and we said, `You’ve got it,”’ Marlins manager Jack McKeon said. “It was a good move, because we needed to win this game.”
Jose Reyes had three hits and an RBI for the Mets, who lost for just the third time in 10 games.
Amazin' Avenue
