Liriano, Twins shut down Indians

Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS

Francisco Liriano is staying positive while most of the Minnesota Twins’ rotation continues to struggle.

He just wants to keep going.

“We’ve been struggling a little bit, but we have to keep playing,” he said. “We can pitch a little bit better, but I think we’re going to be all right.”

Liriano was more than all right on Wednesday, pitching seven innings as the Twins snapped the Cleveland Indians’ six-game winning streak with a 6-0 victory.

Liriano (8-7) allowed 10 baserunners but stayed poised and benefited from three double plays, like in the fifth when Jayson Nix’s bouncer back to the mound with the bases loaded led to a rare 1-2-3 inning-ender. The left-hander struck out eight, including rookie Carlos Santana with runners at the corners to finish the third inning.

“He took care of business with runners on, and that’s what good pitchers do,” said Shelley Duncan, who grounded into a 4-6-3 double play with two on and none out in the second.

With three switch-hitters and six righties in the lineup, the young Indians were ready for Liriano, who has not allowed a home run to a left-handed hitter since April 6, 2009. He also has walked only one lefty all season.

After a couple of long high foul balls to left that hooked away from the pole, Cleveland’s Matt LaPorta whiffed at a high fastball to strike out in the fourth.

“Back in 2006 he looked like a freak to everybody. He was just flat-out overpowering,” Indians manager Manny Acta said. “But he looks good. He looks like a top of the rotation type of guy right now to me.”

Delmon Young had three hits and three RBIs for Minnesota.