Dontrelle Willis' comeback with Cubs lasts seven pitches

Jorge L. Ortiz, USA TODAY Sports | USATODAY

PHOENIX – Dontrelle Willis' first appearance in a Chicago Cubs uniform came to an abrupt end. The much-traveled left-hander hopes his latest comeback attempt does not meet a similar fate.

Willis came on in relief in the eighth inning of the Cubs' 7-6 loss against the Los Angeles Dodgers and walked leadoff hitter Nick Evans, then left with tightness in his left shoulder after throwing one pitch to Brian Barden.

"It's a mild setback, I guess. Hopefully it's nothing serious and I don't miss a lot of time,'' said Willis, who will be reevaluated by the Cubs medical staff. "It's probably just fatigue. Hopefully just a couple of days and I'll get back on it. I'm going to go back to the yard and let them give me some TLC.''

The 2003 National League rookie of the year with the then-Florida Marlins, Willis is trying to make a comeback with the club that drafted him out of high school in 2000.

He signed a minor-league contract in January, after announcing his retirement last July following a four-game spell (0-3, 8.53 ERA) with the Baltimore Orioles' Class AAA team in Norfolk, Va.

Willis, 31, went 22-10 with a 2.63 ERA with the Marlins in 2005 but has not had a winning season since and is now playing for his ninth organization, including two tours of duty with the Cubs.

After his performance declined sharply in 2007, the Marlins sent him to the Detroit Tigers that December in the trade featuring Miguel Cabrera.

Willis signed a three-year, $29 million contract with Detroit before the 2008 season but his command deserted him and career went on a tailspin. He spent time on the disabled list with what the Tigers called anxiety disorder and won just two games in three years with them.

His most successful stint since then was in 2011, when he went 1-6 with a 5.00 ERA in 13 starts with the Cincinnati Reds.

"It's frustrating,'' Willis said of the injury. "I worked real hard to get back and was finally getting improvement, and then this happens. But I'll overcome it. I've done it before.''