Francisco Liriano was on the verge of tears after Monday night's game against the Tigers. However, it's the Twins who might be crying hardest with one of their aces looking at a likely trip to the disabled list.
Francisco Liriano
Starting Pitcher
Minnesota Twins
Profile
2006 SEASON STATISTICS
GM W L BB K ERA
27 12 3 32 142 2.19
The Tigers roughed up Liriano in a 9-3 rout Monday, and after the game, Twins manager Ron Gardenhire announced that the left-hander is still suffering from soreness in his throwing forearm.
Reports out of Minnesota say that the 22-year-old Cy Young candidate is out indefinitely with a left elbow injury. However, manager Ron Gardenhire told reporters after Monday night's game that Liriano's problems appeared to be muscular in nature.
"It's a muscular problem -- as the game was going on, he started to feel it," Gardenhire said. "We had him checked out before, and everything was fine, but we'll have him checked out again. It's muscles, not his elbow."
After facing the Tigers on July 28, Liriano (12-3) missed his next start because of inflammation in the forearm. The rest did not seem to help, as he gave up four runs and a season-high 10 hits in just four innings. He struck out five.
"It started bothering me in the second inning," said Liriano, who was taken out after four innings. "It really bothered me. I couldn't throw fastball, changeup, slider or anything."
When asked if he was worried about his status, Liriano answered yes, "because it's getting worse."
Gardenhire said Liriano would be evaluated again when the Twins return from their road trip on Wednesday.
Twins pitcher Carlos Silva spoke to Liriano after the game and told him not to try to be a "hero" and pitch through pain.
"He needs to be a hero for a long time -- not a hero for just one year," Silva told reporters, according to the Pioneer Press.
"If you're going to lose him, it's better to lose him for two weeks than for his future," Silva said, according to the Star Tribune.