The Minnesota Twins' Francisco Liriano, who came into tonight's game with an ERA over nine and who had been struggling all season, threw the best game of his career and the major leagues' first no-hitter of 2011, and the Twins beat the White Sox 1-0.
Minnesota's only run scored on a solo home run by Jason Kubel in the fourth inning.
Liriano struggled with his command, issuing six walks, but they were scattered through the game and the Twins defense helped him out by turning three double plays. With the tying run on first base with one out on the last of the walks (to Juan Pierre), Liriano got Alexei Ramirez to pop up to shortstop Matt Tolbert, and then on a 3-2 count, Adam Dunn hit a line drive right at Tolbert for the final out. Liriano threw 123 pitches in notching his first major league complete game and shutout, as well as the no-hitter.
The last time the White Sox were no-hit before today was on August 26, 1991 in Kansas City by the Royals' Bret Saberhagen. The last time they were no-hit in Chicago was on April 7, 1984 at the old Comiskey Park by the Detroit Tigers' Jack Morris, who also struggled with walks that day, at one point walking the bases loaded, but getting out of it with a double play.
The win also puts the Twins ahead of the White Sox into fourth place in the AL Central and drops the Sox to a season-worst 11-20 mark, making them the first team to 20 losses. The two teams will play again Wednesday night at 7:10 p.m.