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Willis takes aim at first win versus Rockies

Aug 9, 2011 - 2:39 PM (Sports Network) - Vagabond southpaw Dontrelle Willis gets a sixth crack at a first win in a Cincinnati uniform tonight when the Reds host the visiting Colorado Rockies in the second test of a four-game series at Great American Ball Park.

A 29-year-old Oakland native, Willis spent his initial five seasons with the Florida Marlins and was second in National League Cy Young Award voting in 2005 after going 22-10 with a 2.63 earned run average in 34 starts.

He's managed just three major-league wins since leaving Florida, however, after myriad struggles with injury and off-the-field issues.

Willis split last season between Detroit and Arizona and won a game in each city, but is 0-1 in five starts with the Reds in 2011 despite a respectable 3.41 ERA across 29 innings.

He's gone at least six innings in four of five starts and allowed eight hits and two runs in an Aug. 3 no-decision at Houston, a game the Reds ultimately lost, 5-4.

Willis is 4-1 lifetime against Colorado in six starts.

The Rockies start soon-to-be 26-year-old righty Esmil Rogers, who faces the Reds for the first time this season and the first time in his career as a starter.

The Dominican, who'll turn 26 on Sunday, was a 6-3 winner over Washington on Aug. 4 after allowing just one run on seven hits in 5 2/3 innings.

It was the fifth consecutive unbeaten outing for Rogers, who last lost on April 18 after allowing eight runs on six hits in just three innings against San Francisco.

In three career innings against the Reds over two bullpen appearances, he's allowed a run on three hits.

Colorado drew first blood in this series on Monday when Carlos Gonzalez hit the go-ahead two-run homer in the eighth inning, propelling the Rockies to a 10-7 win.

Seth Smith smacked a pair of two-run homers, while Todd Helton also went deep as part of a three-hit, three-RBI performance for Colorado, which won for just the third time in its last nine games.

The Rockies, who had 14 hits, somehow went 0-for-9 with men in scoring position and left 11 men on base.

Brandon Phillips, who hasn't started for two straight games because of an ankle injury, tied the game with a pinch-hit solo homer in the seventh, an upper deck blast to left field.

Jay Bruce also hit a three-run home run and Drew Stubbs added a two-run blast for the Reds, who lost for the fourth time in five games.

Colorado took five of seven from the Reds last season.