Dontrelle Willis couldn’t get Adrian Beltre out, and he couldn’t get pitcher Odalis Perez out either. In fact, by the third inning he couldn’t get anybody out.
Willis retired only six batters and gave up seven runs, including a three-run homer by Beltre that helped the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the host Florida Marlins 9-3 Monday night.
“This is not a marquee night for fantasy baseball,” Willis said. “But it takes a lot to get me down.”
In a rare show of offense by the Dodgers, their first eight hitters reached base in the third inning as they scored six times. Nine runs matches their best since April 20.
Willis (11-3) lasted only two-plus innings, matching his shortest outing. In five starts since the All-Star break his ERA is 6.48.
Shoulder surgery for Kearns
Cincinnati Reds outfielder Austin Kearns is scheduled to have season-ending shoulder surgery Thursday. Kearns, on the disabled list since July 17, injured his right shoulder May 21 when he collided with Atlanta’s Ray King on a play at the plate.
Kearns hit .309 before getting hurt, .208 after the injury.
Expo killer
Rockies first baseman Todd Helton is hitting .415 (68-for-164) overall against Montreal despite going 0-for-3 Monday night. Helton holds the highest average among active players against one team (minimum 125 plate appearances)–.423 (71-for-168) against Philadelphia.
Triple play team
The Cardinals have hit into two triple plays this season, the first time an NL team has done so since the 1998 Giants. It’s only the second time in franchise history the Cardinals have done so–and the first time since 1896, their fifth season of play.
MONDAY’S GAMES
RESULTS, SYNOPSIS
St. Louis 6 at Pittsburgh 4
W: Haren (3-3)
L: Wells (5-6)
S: Isringhausen (12)
Albert Pujols, hitting safely in his 25th straight game, and Bo Hart homered. CF Jim Edmonds twice threw out runners at the plate. Pirates had four straight singles in eighth, didn’t score.
Los Angeles 9 at Florida 3
W: Perez (8-9)
L: Willis (11-3)
Odalis Perez allowed two runs and seven hits in eight innings and retired 13 batters in a row. An .050 hitter, he also walked and scored the run that put Los Angeles ahead to stay.
Colorado 1 at Montreal 3
W: Day (6-4)
L: Jennings (10-10)
S: Biddle (28)
Vladimir Guerrero hit a two-run homer and Zach Day pitched six strong innings. Colorado lost its third in a row. Former Sox reliever Rocky Biddle has converted 28 of 33 save chances.
