=== D-Train wins 20th as Marlins crush Nats ===

Washington, DC (My Sportsbook) - Dontrelle Willis went six impressive innings to earn his 20th win of the year, tying St. Louis' Chris Carpenter for the major league lead, as the Florida Marlins buried the Washington Nationals, 12-1, in the third game of four at RFK Stadium.

The Marlins took a 2-1 lead in this critical series and remained a game behind front-running Houston in the NL wild card race. Washington is now 3 1/2 games short of the wild card lead.

Willis (20-8) departed after 97 pitches, surrendering a run on just four hits while striking out three. He also delivered at the plate, going 2-for-4, including a double, while driving in a run and scoring two.

He is the first Marlin to win 20 games in a season, and the first African American to do it since Oakland's Dave Stewart in 1990. Only 13 African Americans have posted 20-win campaigns in the history of Major League Baseball.

"I'm dumbfounded ... ecstatic," Willis said. "It's historic. I never thought I'd be in this situation. (I feel) fortunate, and I hope African American players are proud of me."

Carlos Delgado homered and drove in three runs for Florida, which has won four of six overall. Six Marlins had two hits in the win.

Washington starter John Halama (1-4) took the loss. He lasted just 2/3 of an inning, giving up a run on two hits while also walking a batter.

Rick Short drove in the lone run for Washington, which has dropped two straight on the heels of a three-game winning streak.

The Marlins took the lead in the first inning when Juan Encarnacion drilled a double to center to score Miguel Cabrera, who had walked.

Willis hurt his right knee after fielding an inning-ending grounder in the second, but remained in the game. Despite a slight limp, his knee appeared ok the next inning when he came to bat.

After Damion Easley singled, Willis tried to bunt him over. It was a poor bunt and Easley was forced out at second, but Willis raced down the first-base line to avert a double play.

In the bottom of the second, Willis' delivery seemed fine and he struck out the first two batters.

"I popped my knee but it wasn't a big deal," Willis said. "Those things happen."

The Marlins extended their lead in the third when Delgado launched a towering home run to right field after Cabrera had led off with a walk.

The Marlins tacked on two more runs in the fourth. Cabrera singled home Willis, who had stung a double to right and then advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Luis Castillo. Later in the inning, Delgado hit a sacrifice fly to plate Jeff Conine, who had been hit by a pitch and went to third on Cabrera's base hit.

Conine smacked an RBI single in the fifth to make it 6-0. Easley hit an RBI single in the sixth and Willis followed with an RBI groundout.

Washington finally got on the board in the bottom of the sixth when Short led off with a home run to left.

Paul Lo Duca drilled a two-run double in the seventh to make it 10-1. The Marlins added two more runs in the ninth inning on pinch-hitter Josh Willingham's RBI single with the bases loaded. Another run came home on the next play when Robert Andino reached base on Zimmerman's fielding error.

Game Notes

Willis is 3-0 against Washington this year...This was the first time since 1971 that two southpaws have started at RFK.