Ailing Liriano can't slow Tigers
Francisco Liriano still isn't healthy and he sure didn't look it against the Detroit Tigers.
The Tigers roughed up Liriano in a 9-3 rout last night in Detroit, and after the game, Twins manager Ron Gardenhire announced that Liriano is still suffering from soreness in his left forearm.
``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."
Liriano (12-3) missed his last 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.
``It started bothering me in the second inning," said Liriano. ``I couldn't throw fastball, changeup, slider or anything."
Zach Miner (7-2) won the duel of rookie starters, allowing three runs and seven hits in 6 1/3 innings.
Dodgers 7, Rockies 2 -- Jeff Kent homered, doubled, and drove in three runs in his return from the disabled list, and Brad Penny (12-5) went eight innings as host Los Angeles extended its winning streak to 10 games.
Angels 6, White Sox 3 -- Vladimir Guerrero homered and Kelvim Escobar threw six strong innings, leading Los Angeles past host Chicago, dropping the White Sox into a tie with Boston for the AL wild-card lead.
Athletics 7, Rangers 4 -- Mark Ellis drove in four runs with a homer and a bases-loaded double, leading Oakland past visiting Texas, the A's eighth win in their last nine games.
Giants 8, Diamondbacks 4 -- Jason Schmidt hit one of San Francisco's six home runs and pitched the Giants past visiting Arizona.
Blue Jays 8, Orioles 1 -- Brian Tallet, Jeremy Accardo, and Brandon League combined on a two-hitter in place of injured starter Ted Lilly, and Lyle Overbay homered and drove in five runs to lead host Toronto.
Cardinals 13, Reds 1 -- Yadier Molina homered during a five-run first inning and drove in four runs overall, leading visiting St. Louis over Cincinnati and extending its lead over the Reds in the NL Central to 4 1/2 games.
Mariners 5, Devil Rays 4 -- Raul Ibanez hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the fifth inning and Seattle hung on to beat visiting Tampa Bay.
Phillies 9, Braves 6 -- Ryan Howard hit his 39th homer to surpass 100 RBIs, leading visiting Philadelphia over Atlanta.
