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Liriano attempts to continue late-season run

Sep 16, 2008 - 1:03 PM Minnesota (82-68) at Cleveland (73-77) 7:05 pm EDT

CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- A 24-year-old left-handed future ace dominated the Minnesota Twins on Monday. That same description could be used to describe Francisco Liriano, who would like nothing more than to return the favor against the Cleveland Indians.

Liriano attempts to match Scott Lewis' strong outing on Tuesday as the Twins continue their three-game set against the Indians.

Even though he didn't come to the majors with quite the same fanfare that Liriano did in 2005, Lewis struck out five over six frames in the series opener, extending his scoreless streak to begin his Indians' career to 14 innings after blanking the Orioles over eight innings in his major league debut on Wednesday.

However, Liriano is no stranger to baffling his opponents despite missing all of last season following "Tommy John" surgery and struggling to start 2008.

Liriano (5-3, 3.19 ERA) is 5-0 with a 1.57 ERA in eight games since being recalled August 1 following a three-month stint in the minors after losing his first three starts and sporting an 11.32 ERA before he was sent down to the minors in late April.

His recent run of success actually began after allowing three hits in six scoreless innings in a 6-2 win over the Indians on August 3.

Liriano was sharp again in Thursday's 3-2, 10-inning loss but settled for a no-decision after yielding two runs and six hits with six strikeouts over eight innings in his longest outing July 28, 2006.

The Indians will counter with Zach Jackson (0-3, 5.63), who is still searching for his first win since 2006 and his first victory since coming over from Milwaukee in the trade involving CC Sabathia. The lefthander surrendered four earned runs and eight hits over six frames in a 6-3 loss to Baltimore on Thursday.