Francisco Liriano is right on schedule. The 24-year-old left-hander made what is expected to be the first of two rehab starts Thursday night, working 5 1/3 innings for the Fort Myers Miracle in an 8-6 loss to the Sarasota Reds at Hammond Stadium.

Liriano is expected to leave for Triple-A Rochester Sunday where he will make one more start before re-joining the Minnesota Twins, but his schedule also includes being in Miami Friday. His wife is expecting to give birth to their first child.

“I have to go there now,” he said. “We don’t have a named picked out yet.”

For Liriano, it’s one step at a time. He’s trying to get back to the major leagues after Tommy John Surgery forced him to miss the entire 2007 season.

His start against Sarasota Thursday was far from spectacular. He allowed four runs on six hits (five doubles) and walked two.

He settled down, though, after giving up two runs in the second and pitched three consecutive scoreless innings.

He finished with eight strikeouts and got his pitch count up to 82.

“I think I did okay,” he said. “The first couple innings I was going too fast to the plate. Then I was trying to stay back a little bit and throw more fastballs. I have to work on locating my fastball, that’s the main thing right now.”

Liriano’s return to the Twins is expected to bolster their starting rotation after the February trade that sent ace Johan Santana to the Mets.

Liriano dazzled in his first season as a starter in 2006, going 12-3 with a 2.13 ERA, but he had pain in his left elbow toward the end of the season, resulting in surgery.

He threw well in his final Spring Training start, but Twins manager Ron Gardenhire decided to be cautious.

“Everything feels fine right now,” Liriano said. “I don’t feel any pain.”

The Miracle were opening their Florida State League season Thursday night, and will hold their traditional opening night festivities with post-game fireworks Friday when they host the Reds.

The Miracle were jumpstarted Thursday by a two-run homer by Wilson Ramos in the first inning.

Liriano got through the first unharmed, but struggled with his control in the second. He allowed a double to Juan Francisco and a walk to Drew Strubbs, then made a throwing error on a sacrifice bunt.

The Miracle led 3-2 in the sixth, but the Reds put two runners. That forced Liriano to exit, and the Reds scored twice to take a 4-3 lead.

The Miracle trailed 8-3 in their last at-bat, but Danny Valencia hammered a three-run shot to produce the final margin.



Sarasota 020 002 400 — 8 11 1

Fort Myers 201 000 003 — 6 8 1

W — Jordan Smith. L – Francisco Liriano.

2B — Justin Turner (S), Juan Francisco 3 (S), Jason Louwsma (S), Chris Heisey (S). HR — Chris Valaika (S), Danny Valencia (F), Wilson Ramos (F).