No-No Lirano

Liriano receives congratulations after
tossing the 7th no-hitter in
franchise history.

The Minnesota Twins have not had many shining moments during the first month of the season, posting a 10-17 record before Tuesday night in Chicago.

When the calendar turned May the result was much of the same with a 10-3 loss in Kansas City and received a much need day off Monday.

Left-hander Francisco Liriano was set to take the mound with a 1-4 record and 9.13 earned run average, putting his future in Minnesota in doubt.

Something magical was about to occur for the 27-year old lefty at U.S. Celluar Field.

Liriano tossed the seventh no-hitter in Twins history, but was nothing close to perfect, struggling with his command of the strike zone, walking six Chicago White Sox. Liriano, who has been known in his young career to be a strike out pitcher, only recorded two strikeouts in Minnesota's 1-0 win.

That's the third fewest number of strike outs in any no-hitter.

The game's lone run came on Jason Kubel's third home run of the year in the fourth inning off right-hander Edwin Jackson. Jackson tossed a no-hitter of his own last season while pitching for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The last Twins pitcher to toss a no-hitter was another left-hander, Eric Milton, who did so in the Metrodome against the then-Anaheim Angels on September 11, 1999. Oddly enough Lirano's comes days after the assassination of Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.

As a rookie in 2006, Liriano was an instant phenom with Minnesota, going 12-3 with a 2.16 ERA, looking to follow in the foot steps on fellow teammate and ace left-hander, Johan Santana.

Liriano was hampered by an arm injury that required Tommy John surgery, costing him the entire 2007 season. It took Liriano two full seasons to regain form and get back to the pitcher that once had so much promise. Last season, Liriano got back to his winning ways throwing a career-high 191.2 innings and striking out 201 batters, eclipsing that mark for the first time in his career.

He also record a career-high 14 wins, helping the Twins win their sixth American League Central Division title in nine years.

2010 was known as the year of the pitcher with six no-hit and/or perfect games thrown, this is the first of 2011 and it comes from an unexpected customer. Prior to his injury, the baseball world always thought after watching Liriano in '06 that he would some day throw a no-hitter in the big leagues and now has done so.

Liriano had not thrown a shutout or even a complete game for that matter at the Minor or Major League level until now, one he won't soon forget. Liriano lowered his ERA to 6.61 on the season, but his strikeout-to-walk-ratio did not improve. He has walked 24 hitters this season compared to his 20 strikeouts.

Liriano threw 123 pitches on the South Side to complete the no-hit bid.

With a healthy Justin Morneau and catcher Joe Mauer nearing his return from the disabled list, this might just be the jolt the Twins had been waiting for to shake off a terrible April. Fresh off his '10 AL Manager of the Year Award, Ron Gardenhire looks to the right the ship before the surprising division leading Cleveland Indians run away with the AL Central.

The win takes the Twins out of the division cellar for the moment putting them a half game up on Chicago.

At least for one night the Twin Cities can sleep a little easier knowing Liriano said No-No.