Minnesota Twins pitcher Francisco Liriano has thrown the first no-hitter of the 2011 season.
Liriano allowed no hits over 9 innings in the Twins 1-0 victory of the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday evening.
Not only was it the first no-hit, no-run game of Liriano’s career, but it was the first time he has ever thrown a complete game in 95 starts at the MLB level.
Liriano was effectively wild on Tuesday night. He walked six batters and threw just 66 strikes in 123 pitches.
Liriano defeated White Sox right-hander Edwin Jackson. Jackson threw an 8 walk no-hitter last season as a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The left-hander’s no-hitter remained in tact after a controversial double play ball ended the 8th inning. After Gordon Beckham grounded out to 3rd base, the relay throw pulled Justin Morneau off of the first base bag. Morneau tried to apply the tag to Beckham and appeared to miss. However 1st base umpire Paul Emmel said Beckham had been tagged out.
3 outs later Liriano put himself in the record books by getting Adam Dunn to line out to shortstop.
With the no-hit victory Liriano moves to 2-4 with a 6.61 ERA on the 2011 season.
Suck it Sox!
Suck it Sox!