15-Year Marliniversary: Dontrelle Willis Makes Big League Debut

(Photo: Jon Way-USA TODAY Sports)
Throughout their history, the Florida/Miami Marlins have had just four pitchers make multiple All-Star Games. One of them made their big league debuts on this day 15 years ago.

It was May 9, 2003 as the Colorado Rockies came to Pro Player Stadium to open a 3-game series. On the mound for the Rockies was veteran left-hander Darren Oliver.

His opponent for the Florida Marlins? A left-handed rookie named Dontrelle Willis, who was making his Major League debut.

Willis didn't pick up the win that day, but his quality start led the Marlins' organization to believe that it had something special. Willis allowed three runs in six innings of work, scattering seven hits and striking out seven.

He left with his team down 3-1 in the sixth inning, but the Marlins evened the contest in the bottom of the frame with a 2-run double from outfielder Juan Encarnacion. The teams traded runs in the eighth inning before Florida won the game in walk-off fashion in the ninth on a solo blast from Encarnacion.

As for Willis, he would go on to win nine of his first 10 decisions en route to being named an All-Star and eventually, National League Rookie of the Year. He finished the season with a 14-6 record and 3.30 ERA while helping the Marlins win their second World Series.

Willis would spend five seasons in South Florida, appearing in two All-Star games and compiling a 68-54 record and 3.87 ERA. His 22 wins and five shutouts in 2005 led the league.

He, along with Miguel Cabrera, were part of a trade with the Detroit Tigers after the 2007 season that brought Cameron Maybin and Andrew Miller to Florida. While Cabrera would go on to win batting titles, MVPs and Triple Crowns in Detroit, Willis was never quite the same pitcher upon departing.

Willis has long been retired, last playing in the majors for the Cincinnati Reds in 2011. Although it's been more than a decade since Willis was a member of the Marlins, he left the team as the club's all-time leader in wins.

To this day, only Ricky Nolasco has more. Willis remains second in team-history in innings pitched and third in strikeouts. It all started for Willis on the Major League level on this day 15 years ago.

 Mike Ferguson is the founder of Marlins Memories. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

15-Year Maliniversary: Lowell Becomes First Marlin to Homer Three Times in One Game

Image
Rich Pilling/MLB Photos via Getty Images Third baseman Mike Lowell certainly had his share of postseason heroics with the Florida Marlins and Boston Red Sox, but on this day 15 years ago, the Gold Glove third baseman did something that no Marlin had ever done -- leave the yard three times in one game. The defending world champion Florida Marlins were riding high on April 21, 2004 as they looked to clinch the series by taking the middle game of a 3-game set at Citizens Bank Park against the Philadelphia Phillies. Florida was 9-4 on the young season compared to just 5-7 for Philadelphia. Through five and a half innings, a solo home run by Lowell off Philadelphia starter Eric Milton to lead off the second inning accounted for all the scoring. Then in the bottom of the sixth, the Phillies pushed across five runs with a 2-run homer from Jim Thome putting Philadelphia ahead. Trailing 5-1 entering the seventh, Florida answered back with five runs of its own. After the Marlins pushed...
Read more

Marlins' Top 5 Mother's Day Moments

Image
(Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports) Whether you're just enjoying a day with mom, taking her out to the ballgame or trying just to leave her alone, there's one thing about Mother's Day and the Florida/Miami Marlins. They've played on that day every year since their inception in 1993. This year's opponent for the second Mother's Day in a row will be the Atlanta Braves. Whether you get to watch the action or are busy with mom, we've got the good times for you. Here's a look at the top five moments in Marlins' history on Mother's Day: 5. Moore's Pinch-Hit Blast May 14, 2017 For most of last season's Mother's Day contest, the Miami Marlins had been unable to figure out Atlanta Braves' starting pitcher R.A. Dickey. Through six innings, the Marlins had been kept off the scoreboard and held to three hits. Trailing 1-0 in the seventh however, the Marlins had something brewing. After Giancarlo Stanton doubled and A.J...
Read more

15-Year Marliniversary: Lowell's Walk-Off Blast in Extras Lifts Fish Past Mets

Image
Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/Getty Images Over the last couple weeks, the Miami Marlins have had their fair share of exciting victories. That was also the case for the then-Florida Marlins on this day 15 years ago. The Marlins were 28-20 and in first place in the National League East as they prepared for the middle game of a three-game set against the New York Mets at Pro Player Stadium on May 29, 2004. Florida took the lead in the first as Lenny Harris grounded into a double play to plate a run. The Mets drew even on a Ty Wiggington solo homer in the second inning and took the lead in the fourth on a Karim Garcia RBI single. Álex González’s RBI single in the bottom of that inning scored Jeff Conine and evened the contest. Florida had won in walk-off fashion more than a week before against the Arizona Diamondbacks on a bases-loaded walk to Mike Redmond, but the only walk-off home run of the season for 2004 would come against the Mets off the bat of Mike Lowell. An All-Star, ...
Read more