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Twins welcome back Liriano vs. Royals

Apr 13, 2008 - 1:36 PM Minnesota (6-5) at Kansas City (6-5) 2:10 pm EDT

KANSAS CITY, Missouri (Ticker) - After posting back-to-back shutouts in the first two games of the series, the Minnesota Twins welcome back perhaps their most talented starter when Francisco Liriano comes off the disabled list in the finale against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium.

Liriano has been out since September of 2006 after undergoing "Tommy John" surgery.

Prior to the injury, Liriano was tearing up the American League in his rookie season, posting a 12-3 record with a 2.16 ERA. He made the All-Star team while striking out 144 batters in 121 innings and was the front-runner for the Rookie of the Year award before going down in August.

He was erratic with his command in spring training this season, prompting the Twins to send him down to the minors to work on straightening out his fastball. Liriano went 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA in a pair of minor league starts.

But an injury to Kevin Slowey this week prompted his recall.

Liriano (NR) will be trying to match teammates Livan Hernandez and Boof Bonser, each of whom led the team to shutouts against the Royals in the series. Hernandez went seven innings in a 5-0 win on Friday and Bonser lasted six frames in a 2-0 victory on Friday.

Kansas City has not scored since the first inning of a 6-1 loss to the Yankees on Thursday - a span of 26 innings.

Brian Bannister (2-0, 1.50 ERA) will take the mound for the Royals in search of his third win of the season. The righthander allowed two runs in five innings to earn a victory against New York last Tuesday.