Call to the pen
Fansided

Miami Marlins History 5/14: All Aboard The D-Train

By Sean Millerick

MIAMI - JULY 2: Pitcher Dontrelle Willis #35 of the Florida Marlins delivers against the Atlanta Braves during the MLB game at Pro Player Stadium on July 2, 2003 in Miami, Florida. The Braves won 2-1. (Photo By Eliot J. Schechter/Getty Images)
MIAMI - JULY 2: Pitcher Dontrelle Willis #35 of the Florida Marlins delivers against the Atlanta Braves during the MLB game at Pro Player Stadium on July 2, 2003 in Miami, Florida. The Braves won 2-1. (Photo By Eliot J. Schechter/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Seventeen years ago, a young Miami Marlins rookie picked up the first win of his MLB career. All it did was help spark one of the biggest turnarounds in baseball history.

When most fans think of critical 2003 Miami Marlins pitching performances, thoughts go immediately to Josh Beckett‘s five-hit shutout in Game 6 of the World Series.

However, I’d like to throw out another. How about a 5 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 7K victory over the San Diego Padres all the way back in May?

More from Miami Marlins

Certainly, earning the win in the final baseball game of the season can’t really be topped. But the case can absolutely be made that the Marlins aren’t even in the playoffs without the efforts of the pitcher responsible for that second stat line. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t Beckett.

On May 14, 2003, Dontrelle Willis earned the first victory of his Miami Marlins and MLB career.

His actual MLB debut came the previous week against the Colorado Rockies, a game in which he actually pitched slightly better, but was forced to settle for a no-decision. This victory though started a string of nine consecutive decisions for the D-Train, and he’d lose only one game before the All-Star Break.

This victory helped secure a series win and left Miami having won three of four since swapping managers the previous weekend. The fact the Marlins would lose six straight games afterward? Well, hard to put too much of that on the rookie. Willis’ energy and enthusiasm for the game have been cited as a major boost by just about everyone associated with that championship team.

Every pitcher dreams of their first big league win. Dontrelle would win thirteen more that season, become an All-Star, win Rookie of the Year, and win a World Series. By the time he left Miami following the 2007 season, he was the franchise leader in every major pitching category. To this day, he still leads the team in complete games and shutouts.

Next. Five Crazy Ideas For 2020 Season. dark

And it all started seventeen years ago today. Thanks, Dontrelle.

Home/Miami Marlins