20-year Marliniversary: Willis opens season with second straight shutout – Miami Marlins Talk

On this day in 2005, Dontrelle Willis went the distance against the Phillies. 

Sandy Alcántara is the only member of the Florida/Miami Marlins to ever win the National League Cy Young Award. One, however, could argue that Dontrelle Willis’ 2005 season was the best ever for a Marlins hurler.

That season, Willis set the franchise record for wins and tied the record for shutouts. On this day 20 years ago, he opened the year with a second straight shutout in the Florida Marlins’ 4-0 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies.

After tossing a five-hit shutout in his season debut against the Washington Nationals, Willis was even better as he took the mound at Dolphins Stadium on April 13, 2005. Willis tossed a three-hit shutout while allowing just a walk and striking out seven, including Jim Thome three times.

On 114 pitches, Willis allowed just three singles. Only two Phillies reached scoring position for the entire afternoon. Willis completed the contest by getting Pat Burrell to fly out.

For Florida, most of the offense came early. Miguel Cabrera got the scoring started with a sacrifice fly in the first inning. Matt Treanor and Damion Easley added RBI singles in the second and fourth innings, respectively. Cabrera’s second sacrifice fly in the eighth capped the scoring. 

While Philadelphia managed just three hits, the Marlins finished with eight. Juan Pierre, Luis Castillo and Easley each finished with two hits and a run scored.

The 2003 National League Rookie of the Year, Willis would be named an All-Star for the second time in 2005. He finished as the National League leader in wins (22), complete games (7), and shutouts (5) before finishing as runner-up for the Cy Young to Chris Carpenter of the St. Louis Cardinals. Willis’ second of two straight shutouts to open the year came on this day two decades ago.

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