Dontrelle Willis faced two batters tonight before he was removed with an injury:

Willis has continued to say that his left arm is healthy, but uneven performances since spring training have raised concern. Tonight's outing casts even more doubt on his ability to be a dependable starter for the Tigers. He left the game with what the team called a hyperextended right knee.

He walked Chicago's leadoff hitter, Carlos Quentin, on five pitches. Then he slipped on the wet mound while delivering his first pitch to the next hitter, Orlando Cabrera. That brought head athletic trainer Kevin Rand to the mound.

Willis stayed in the game - but not for long. His third pitch to Jim Thome, a slider, carried well wide of the strike zone and bounced away for a wild pitch.

Rand and Tigers manager Jim Leyland came back to the mound. Willis appeared to say that he wanted to stay in the game, but the discussion was brief. Leyland called down to the bullpen for Aquilino Lopez, who had not even begun to warm up.

More bad new for Detroit, who at least lead 3-2 in the fifth.