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Wells tosses two-hit gem as Cardinals blank Marlins

Jul 19, 2007 - 3:26 AM MIAMI (Ticker) -- Kip Wells was as masterful as Dontrelle Willis was flawed.

Wells allowed two hits in eight innings as the St. Louis Cardinals battered Willis right from the start in a 6-0 victory over the Florida Marlins on Wednesday.

For Wells, it was a welcome reversal of fortune.

Wells (4-12) enjoyed his longest and most effective appearance this season. The 30-year-old righthander appeared to benefit from Willis' meltdown with his best outing since allowing only one hit in seven innings at Houston on April 8.

"That was a big statement (Wells) made tonight," St. Louis manager Tony La Russa said. "He made quality pitch after quality pitch."

The Marlins managed only two hits - a second-inning single by Josh Willingham and a fourth-inning double by Miguel Cabrera - off Wells, who struck out four and walked two.

"I was just trying to be efficient and eat up innings," Wells said. "There are so many things I want to rectify, and that (outing) was a positive toward doing that."

Reliever Troy Percival worked the ninth to preserve the shutout.

As for Willis (7-9), his fall from grace continued.

Booed in his previous home start when he allowed eight runs in 3 2/3 innings against Washington on Friday, the struggling lefthander heard the fans' displeasure from the start.

In the first inning, Albert Pujols' double plated So Taguchi for the Cardinals' first run. Pujols came around to score on Juan Encarnacion's double, giving St. Louis an early 2-0 advantage.

Taguchi's two-run double and Encarnacion's two-run single highlighted a four-run second inning to push the lead to 6-0.

"They hit the ball where it was pitched," Willis said. "You just have to tip your hat. I have to keep grinding.

"I feel a lot better today, as far as (pitching) around the plate. I had a good plan. They were hitting good pitches."

Willis allowed six runs - all earned - and 11 hits in three innings.

The latest setback leaves Florida's ace without a win in his last nine starts. Willis has not won in Miami since April 23 and is 2-6 overall at home this season.

"We don't know what the problem is," Florida manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "We keep working with him on things. We just have to get Dontrelle right."

Willis had not given up more than four earned runs in any of those starts prior to Wednesday.