Rookie Is Evil Twin to Angels

Nights like these explain why Bill Stoneman hoards his prospects instead of trading them.

The San Francisco Giants needed a catcher a few years ago, and the Minnesota Twins needed to clear out veteran A.J. Pierzynski to clear the way for prospect Joe Mauer. So the Twins traded Pierzynski to San Francisco for three more prospects.

One was named Francisco Liriano. One was named Joe Nathan.

Stoneman, the Angels’ general manager, saw them up close and personal in the Twins’ 7-1 victory at Angel Stadium on Wednesday.

Liriano was the star of stars. In his seventh major league start, he had a no-hitter through 5 1/3 innings.

“We know we’ve got a pretty special pitcher here,” Minnesota Manager Ron Gardenhire said. “That’s why everybody wants him in every single trade that comes up with the Minnesota Twins.”

He’s not going anywhere, except to the All-Star game sometime soon. Nathan, an All-Star in each of his first two seasons in Minnesota, struck out the side in the ninth inning. And Mauer ripped three hits, including a two-run double in the first inning, to lift his batting average to .359, second in the major leagues.

Angels starter Ervin Santana, betrayed by his defense, deserved better. But Liriano, who grew up with Santana in the Dominican Republic town of San Cristobal, dominated. In three starts this season, he already has put himself on the list of the game’s top young pitchers.

“He’s definitely got to be near the top of the list,” Angels infielder Robb Quinlan said. “if not at the top.”

The Twins stashed Liriano in the bullpen to open the season, but the ineffectiveness of Kyle Lohse and Carlos Silva forced them to move their 22-year-old prodigy into the rotation.

He won his first start this season, giving up one run in five innings. He won his second start, giving up no runs in five innings. On Wednesday, in his third start, he gave up no hits in five innings.

In the sixth, after Jose Molina walked and Chone Figgins struck out, Orlando Cabrera tapped a high hopper toward third base. Tony Batista charged and made a strong throw, but umpire Ed Hickox called Cabrera safe. Replays appeared to show Cabrera was out.

Gardenhire said Liriano would have come out after the inning, even had the no-hitter been intact. The shutout remained intact, though, with Liriano striking out Garret Anderson and getting Vladimir Guerrero to fly out, ending his night after 104 pitches. On his 103rd pitch, he threw a fastball at 96 mph.

The Angels’ defense was wretched, with several players out of their primary positions.

Quinlan, playing third base instead of first, had one ground ball skid through his legs for an error and another squirt past him into left field for a single, although his range appeared limited on the play.

Figgins, playing second instead of his usual third base or center field, had a ground ball go under his glove on an attempted backhand. Juan Rivera, usually a corner outfielder, played center field and bobbled two balls, one enabling Nick Punto to turn a single into a double and another for an error that enabled Justin Morneau to take an extra base.

Molina, the catcher, committed an error too, dropping a relay throw.

But the sellout crowd saved its boos for Anderson, the left fielder. In the top of the sixth, the fans booed when Anderson short-hopped a single in left-center field. In the bottom of the inning, they booed him again, when he struck out with men on second and third and one out.