Francisco Liriano Returns as Minnesota Twins Defeat Cleveland Indians 6-2

In addition to last season’s Tommy John surgery, it appeared all that Francisco Liriano needed was a good dose of ‘Tribe offense.”  Liriano came into Sunday's game with an 11.32 ERA and no wins.

He exited with his first win of the season and a 7.16 ERA.  The Minnesota Twins won two of their three-game set with the Indians copping a 6-2 victory and the AL Central division lead on Sunday.

Matt Ginter was cruising along for the Indians without any run support, but ended up stumbling in the fifth and again in the sixth, allowing a total of five runs on five hits with three strikeouts and a walk.

The Twins got on the board first with a one-out Brendan Harris home-run (his sixth) in the third inning. 

They added a pair in the fifth. Jason Kubel led off the inning with a walk, scoring on a Mike Lamb triple to right.  Brian Buscher singled, scoring Lamb. 

In the sixth, the Twins tacked on another two runs, one of those again via the triple.  Denard Span started off the inning with a bunt single.  Nick Punto tripled him home.  Justin Morneau was intentionally walked, but Ginter threw a wild pitch, allowing Punto to score. 

Both starting pitchers did not return for the seventh.  The Twins brought in Crain, and he gave up a single to Franklin Gutierrez.  After a pair of Indians strikeouts, Grady Sizemore delivered an RBI double for the Indians' first run of the night. 

The Indians' second run of the afternoon came in the eighth on a Ben Francisco homer to left. 

Span homered for the Twins in the bottom half of the eighth off Juan Rincon, rounding out the scoring.

The Indians head off to Tampa with the Rays looking for revenge.  Last time these two played was right before the All-Star break, with the Indians winning all four games. 

Cliff Lee (14-2, 2.58 ERA) will pitch against Tampa’s Matt Garza (9-6, 3.56 ERA).  Game time is 7:10.