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Reds hope to have Willis on hill in opener with Astros

Sep 19, 2011 - 3:15 PM (Sports Network) - Lefty Dontrelle Willis tries for the 13th time to get his first win of the season tonight when the host Cincinnati Reds take on the Houston Astros in the opener of a three-game series at Great American Ball Park.

Willis, a former National League Rookie of the Year (2003) and runner-up for the Cy Young Award (2005), has won just three times in the majors since completing a 10-victory season with the Florida Marlins in 2007.

He was scheduled to start Sunday against Milwaukee, but was replaced by Matt Maloney after suffering back spasms.

Willis was 2-8 in 24 appearances over two-plus seasons with Detroit, then 1-1 in six appearances with Arizona in 2010 before joining the Reds to begin 2011.

The Oakland, Calif. native had pitched to a 4.21 earned run average through his initial 11 starts with the Reds through Sept. 5, but was ripped for eight runs on nine hits in 3 1/3 innings against the Chicago Cubs in his last start on Sept. 12.

Willis got a no-decision at Houston on Aug. 3 - a 5-4 Astros win - after giving up two runs on eight hits in six innings.

He's 3-2 lifetime against Houston with a 2.65 ERA.

The Astros counter with lefty J.A. Happ, who's won two decisions in three unbeaten starts since ending a four-start skid.

The 28-year-old was a 5-2 winner over his former team - the Philadelphia Phillies - in his most recent start on Sept. 13 after allowing a run on four hits i six innings.

Previously, in two starts, he allowed four runs on eight hits in 12 innings while getting a win and a no-decision against Pittsburgh.

Happ is 1-1 in three career starts against the Reds with a 7.27 ERA and is just 1-9 in 12 road starts in 2011.

On Sunday in Chicago, Clint Barmes' two-run single in the first proved to be the game-winner as the Astros held on for a 3-2 win over the Cubs in the finale of a three-game set.

J.D. Martinez drove in the other run for the Astros, who had dropped their previous three games. Brett Myers (6-13) won his third straight start as he gave up just two runs -- one earned -- and seven hits with one walk and five strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings.

In Cincinnati, Carlos Gomez and Prince Fielder each hit two-run homers in the first inning to power the Milwaukee Brewers to an 8-1 victory over the Reds and a sweep of the three-game series.

Maloney (0-3) was roughed up in his spot start, as he was tagged for seven runs -- six earned -- on nine hits in just 1 2/3 innings.

Cincinnati is 7-5 versus the Astros this season.