Left fielder Josh Willingham has experienced back stiffness periodically since 2006, so the Marlins know the discomfort can sideline their slugger at any time.
On Tuesday, it happened for the first time this season. Willingham took batting practice but was scratched from the starting lineup because of stiffness. Willingham missed the tail end of last season because of a herniated disk. He had an MRI in September and elected to rest his back rather than have surgery.
He had been told by doctors that it likely is a chronic condition that will require him to rest until it improves. Last year, his power suffered when the back flared up, as he did not hit a home run after August 23. He went from hitting .316 in August to just .200 in September.
Replacing Willingham was Luis Gonzalez, who was signed in the offseason for just such an emergency.
Willingham has gone 14 consecutive games with a hit when he starts, and collected two more Sunday in the win against Milwaukee. He went 7-for-24 with seven RBIs and two home runs on the last road trip.
DODGERS 7, MARLINS 6: Florida's bullpen went into the game as one of the best in baseball. The relievers pitched well enough most of the game, with Doug Waechter and Renyel Pinto combining for five shutout innings after starter Andrew Miller had allowed six runs in three innings. But Kevin Gregg issued a one-walk in the ninth inning to Andre Ethier, who took second on a Matt Kemp groundout and scored on Jeff Kent's single. Not a terrible outing, but enough to cost the Marlins the game. It was Gregg's first loss of the year, and it came after Florida rallied from a 6-1 deficit to tie the game.
