Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - Francisco Liriano extended his scoreless innings streak to 15 with eight shutout frames, and the Minnesota Twins notched a 6-0 victory over the offensively-challenged Cleveland Indians.
Liriano Fantastic As Twins Win Fifth Straight Series
The southpaw, who was a remarkable 12-3 with a 2.16 ERA in his rookie season in 2006, has struggled to regain the form and promise he showed when he teamed up with Johan Santana atop a fearsome Minnesota rotation. He missed all of 2007 after undergoing Tommy John surgery and was a combined 11-17 with a 5.12 ERA in 2008-09.
In three starts in 2010, Liriano has a 1.29 ERA with 17 strikeouts while giving up only 14 hits in 21 innings.
Michael Cuddyer tripled, homered and drove in three for the Twins, who have won their first five series of a season for the first time in franchise history. Denard Span added a two-run single in the win.
Jhonny Peralta went 1-for-2 with two walks for the Indians, who have managed only 46 runs in 14 games -- second-worst in the AL.
David Huff (1-2) allowed four runs, three hits and a career-high six walks in six innings for the Indians, who have lost two straight following a four-game win streak.
Minnesota got all the offense it needed in the second, scoring three runs with two outs. Jason Kubel worked a one-out walk and moved to second on a groundout. J.J. Hardy went down in the count 0-2 but managed to come back and walk to set up Brendan Harris' RBI single up the middle. Harris moved to second on a wild pitch, and Span blooped a two-run single to center for a 3-0 lead.
Meanwhile, Liriano didn't allow an Indians player past second for the first four innings. Cleveland loaded the bases with one out in the fifth, but Asdrubal Cabrera bounced into an inning-ending 5-4-3 double play.
Cuddyer extended the Twins’ lead to four with a solo homer in the sixth and made it a 6-0 game with a two-run triple in the eighth.
Liriano never faced more than four batters in any of his final three innings, and Jesse Crain pitched around a one-out double in the ninth to polish off the win.
Huff was coming off his first career complete game, a win against Texas last week...Cleveland designated hitter Travis Hafner doubled in the ninth and has now reached base in all 13 games this season in which he has played...Cuddyer's triple was his first of the season after notching a career- high seven in 2009...Minnesota has won five of six overall and has its best 15-game start since going 12-3 in 2001.
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