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Liriano Keeps Getting Stronger

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A Tribune wire report

The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 9, 2009

FORT LAUDERDALE - Francisco Liriano is getting stronger with each spring training start.

Liriano struck out five in four perfect innings to help the Minnesota Twins beat the Baltimore Orioles 2-0 on Sunday.

Liriano opened the spring with a shaky start against the New York Yankees, allowing three runs - two earned - and four hits over two innings. But he followed with three scoreless innings against Pittsburgh and dominated against Baltimore.

"Each time, it gets better," Liriano said. "All my pitches were working today."

Liriano and Manager Ron Gardenhire said he was throwing his changeup more, a pitch he began using after the surgery. He combined with five relievers on a one-hitter.

"He was pretty good," Gardenhire said. "Some pretty good hitters on their side. The ball was darting all over the place."

Liriano got off to a rocky start last season while recovering from Tommy John surgery. The left-hander was in Triple-A from mid-April to the beginning of August, then came back and went 6-1 with a 2.74 ERA.

Liriano was followed by Joe Nathan, who withdrew from the World Baseball Classic with a sore shoulder.

Nathan, who hadn't pitched since Feb. 25 and rarely takes the mound in spring road games, threw a perfect fifth inning.

ANGELS: All-Star starting pitcher Ervin Santana was diagnosed with a sprained ligament in his throwing elbow and will open the season on the disabled list.

ASTROS: Brandon Backe, trying to win a spot in Houston's rotation, threw two scoreless innings before leaving the Astros' 11-4 loss to Pittsburgh with a strained side muscle.

BRAVES: United States third baseman Chipper Jones left Sunday night's World Baseball Classic game against Venezuela after five innings with a mild oblique strain and will be evaluated again today.

BREWERS: Milwaukee released reliever Eric Gagne so he can rehab his sore shoulder in Tempe, Ariz., at a private facility.

Gagne was in the Brewers camp as a non-roster invitee on a minor-league contract.

YANKEES: A.J. Burnett threw two scoreless innings in his spring debut to help New York beat Detroit 12-3 in Lakeland.

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