Liriano untouchable in win

Last update: March 9, 2009 - 12:17 AM

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TWINS 2, BALTIMORE 0 Up next: 12:05 p.m. today vs. Tampa Bay • Port Charlotte, Fla.

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FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. - For the second time in four games, the Twins just missed a combined no-hitter Sunday, as Francisco Liriano pitched four perfect innings and Joe Nathan retired all three batters he faced.

Highly touted Orioles catching prospect Matt Wieters broke up the no-hit bid with a single leading off the ninth inning against Bobby Keppel, but the Twins held on for a 2-0 victory.

Three days earlier, the Netherlands had broken up a Twins' no-hit bid in the eighth inning.

This time, Carlos Gomez smashed a two-run homer in the sixth inning, tomahawking a high pitch from Orioles righthander Hayden Penn.

Liriano had five strikeouts, facing seven of the nine hitters expected to start for Baltimore on Opening Day.

"All my pitches were working for me today," Liriano said. "So it can't be any better than that."

JOE CHRISTENSEN

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