Lee is the lefty to impress

Jennifer Simonson, Star Tribune

Twins pitchers Francisco Liriano threw a pitch during the fourth inning against the Cleveland Indians.

Cleveland's one-time rising star continued his strong comeback season, outpitching Francisco Liriano in a shutout of the Twins.

By LA VELLE E. NEAL III, Star Tribune

Last update: April 19, 2008 - 12:30 AM

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CLEVELAND 4, TWINS 0

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The lefthander on the comeback trail was the show at the Metrodome on Friday. For Twins fans, it was the wrong lefty.

While Francisco Liriano took baby steps toward being the pitcher he was before elbow ligament replacement surgery in 2006, Cleveland's Cliff Lee looked like a candidate for Comeback Player of the Year, chewing up Twins hitters in the Indians' 4-0 victory.

Lee faced one batter over the minimum during an eight-inning stint, giving up two hits and striking out eight. He threw 109 pitches, 74 for strikes, dominating a Twins offense that is averaging only 3.9 runs per game.

Cleveland has beaten the Twins eight consecutive meetings, including five in a row at the Dome. And if Lee rebounds from his 5-8 record and 6.29 ERA in 2007, the Twins and the rest of the AL Central are in big trouble.

"We kind of ran into a buzzsaw on the other side over there," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "Mr. Lee really threw the ball very, very well against us. Really didn't give us much of a chance."

Try no chance. The Twins didn't get a hit until Matt Tolbert's single in the fourth and battled from behind in the count all night as Lee pounded hitters with his cut fastball and his nasty curve. Lee, 29, is 3-0 with a 0.40 ERA and has two walks and 20 strikeouts in 22 2/3 innings.

"This is definitely my best start ever, but it's still early," Lee said. "There's a long way to go."

Liriano (0-2) was only a little better in his second outing than he was in his first. He gave up three runs over five innings on four hits with five walks and three strikeouts.

His highlight was a 1-2-3 first inning in which he snapped off sliders and struck two batters out. He spent the remainder of his outing unable to spot his fastball. He threw 47 strikes and 41 balls.

He gave up a two-run single to Casey Blake in the second and a RBI single by Victor Martinez in the fifth. Cleveland's other run came on Blake's solo homer off Juan Rincon in the seventh.

"I've got to pitch better with my fastball," Liriano said. "If I do that, I'll be better."

Lee began 2007 on the disabled list because of an abdominal strain but was inconsistent after he returned. He was sent to the minors July 27 after losing four starts in a row and didn't return until a September callup. Even then, he was used out of the bullpen, and he was not on Cleveland's postseason roster.

"I feel like me," he said. "I feel like I'm pitching the way I know I can. I honestly don't expect to keep pitching this way the whole season. I'd be crazy to think that. But I'm going to ride it out as long as I can."

Twins designated hitter Craig Monroe said it was the best he has ever seen Lee, which says a lot because he was 46-24 with Cleveland from 2004 to '06 -- including an 18-5 record in 2005.

"We've seen him fight from behind. Always pitching behind," Monroe said. "And going into today, that's what we wanted to try to [get him to] do. Well, 1-2, 0-2 every at-bat, makes it tough for the hitters to get locked in."

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