Former Tiger and Mud Hen Dontrelle Willis pitched Louisville to a 5-4 win at Fifth Third Field Friday night. Here are some quotes and notes from Willis following the game.
"I love seeing my name in the lineup and getting a chance to showcase my talent," Willis said. "I still feel I have a lot of good baseball in me. But if I feel I can’t get people out, I’ll go home."
Willis allowed eight hits and four runs in eight innings against the Hens, earning the win when the Bats scored a run off Toledo reliever Brad Thomas in the seventh. It was a solid, if not spectacular outing; and Willis had been nothing short of spectacular in his first two appearances against the Hens.
Willis is 3-0 against Toledo this season, having allowed just 20 hits and only three walks in 28 innings. Willis has a 2.00 ERA against the Hens this year. But he said Friday he doesn't take pleasure in beating the Hens -- or the Tigers' farm team, depending how you look at it.
"I have a lot of friends over there," Willis said of the Mud Hens clubhouse. "I was in Toledo more than I was in Detroit, and I enjoyed my time in Toledo. I definitely like the ballpark, and I like the organization. And I like playing against them."
This season Willis is 5-2 with a 2.74 ERA in 12 starts for Louisville and ranks among the International League's ERA leaders.
"I like the way I'm playing baseball right now," he said. "I haven't played this type of baseball in a long time. Hats off to [Cincinnati general manager] Walt Jocketty and [Reds manager] Dusty Baker for making me feel at home; they gave me a chance to start again. And our manager [in Louisville], Rick Sweet, and our pitching coach, Ted Power, are great guys that you can learn a lot from."
More quotes from Willis will appear in the game story from Friday's contest ... I'll link to it as soon as possible.
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