The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper The Spokesman-Review
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883
Current Temperature
39°F
Current Conditions
Overcast clouds
View complete weather report

Color Scheme

Subscribe now

Struggling Willis quits

Dontrelle Willis is retiring after tough stint with farm club. (Associated Press)
From Wire Reports
Dontrelle Willis is retiring after tough stint with farm club. (Associated Press)

Left-hander Dontrelle Willis is retiring following a rocky stretch with Baltimore’s top farm club.

Willis was the N.L. Rookie of the Year in 2003 with the Marlins and quickly became one of baseball’s most popular players. But the big left-hander has struggled since he won 22 games seven years ago and was second in the N.L. Cy Young Award voting.

“(It’s) kind of sad in a way because of how good he was. I look at it from the game of baseball,” manager Buck Showalter said before Baltimore faced Seattle on Monday night.

Willis won just 26 games and had a 5.02 ERA over his final six seasons in the majors pitching for Florida, Detroit, Arizona and Cincinnati. His final appearance in the majors came on Sept. 25, 2011, when he beat Pittsburgh 5-4 for his only victory of the 2011 season with the Reds.

Willis was cut by Philadelphia during spring training and later agreed to a minor league deal with the Orioles. He made just four appearances for Triple-A Norfolk, going 0-3 with an 8.53 ERA.

The 30-year-old Willis had a 72-69 career record with a 4.17 ERA. He was also one of baseball’s best hitting pitchers during his time in the majors, batting .244.

Berkman eyes return

Lance Berkman expects to be back in the St. Louis Cardinals’ lineup soon after the All-Star break. Maybe even the first day back.

“Yeah, it’s possible,” Berkman said after joining the team to continue rehab from a right knee injury. “It wouldn’t shock me. I’m not banking on it, but at the same time I’m not ruling it out.”

The first baseman has been sidelined since undergoing surgery in late May that turned out to be relatively minor. Berkman said that swelling was minimal after the procedure and he began running a week ago, and that his rehab was right on schedule.

L.A.’s Trout out

Angels All-Star center fielder Mike Trout missed the game at Cleveland with a jammed right pinky.

Trout, who entered the series opener against the Indians leading the A.L. with a .339 average, hurt his finger diving back to second base in Sunday’s game at Toronto. Los Angeles manager Mike Scioscia said the rookie had trouble gripping the bat during early batting practice and the team decided to give him the night off.