MINNEAPOLIS -- The Twins didn't make an acquisition during Thursday's Trade Deadline, but they didn't wait long to make a big addition, recalling Francisco Liriano from Triple-A Rochester on Friday afternoon.

The one-time phenom, who went 12-3 with a 2.16 ERA as a 22-year-old rookie in 2006, struggled while returning from Tommy John elbow reconstruction surgery in 2008, going 0-3 with an 11.32 ERA in three starts.

But he terrorized hitters while pitching for Triple-A Rochester. Liriano was 9-0 with a 2.51 ERA in his past 10 Minor League starts, and in five starts between June 30 and July 22, he allowed only one earned run in 35 innings for a 0.26 ERA.

General manager Bill Smith was asked on Thursday if he thinks Liriano will help the Twins in the pennant race. His response was emphatic.

"Yes, I do -- yes," Smith said. "I've been saying that for several weeks. Yes, I think he will."

Liriano's next scheduled start is Friday.

The Twins have often indicated how much they like their rotation, which consisted of Livan Hernandez and four youngsters before the decision was made to designate Hernandez for assignment to make room for Liriano, effectively dispelling speculation that the lefty may return to the Twins as a reliever.

The manager, Ron Gardenhire, was firmly against placing Liriano in the 'pen.

"No, no -- no bullpen," Gardenhire said. "He's out 16, 17 months, then you start questioning whether he can rebound, get loose two or three times in three days. That isn't right. He's a starter."

Hernandez's last outing didn't help his cause. Against Chicago on Wednesday, Hernandez allowed five earned runs on nine hits and two walks in only four innings.

Pitching matchup
MIN: RHP Nick Blackburn (7-6, 3.69 ERA)
Blackburn takes the mound against the Indians, five days after facing the Tribe in Cleveland. The right-hander ended up with a no-decision, but pitched well, allowing one run and four hits in seven innings. He left with a 2-1 lead, but the Indians tied the game in the eighth. Blackburn is 2-0 in three starts against Cleveland this season. He has allowed three earned runs in 20 1/3 innings.

CLE: LHP Jeremy Sowers (1-5, 5.86 ERA)
Sowers had his best start in nearly two years Sunday, and it looks like the left-hander may have found a groove. In his longest outing since July 28, 2006, Sowers flirted with perfection, retiring the first 15 Twins in order, before bowing out after eight innings of the work. The only damage he allowed were two runs on a couple soft hits, but they were more than enough to force him to settle for a no-decision. Sowers has not faced the Twins this year, but in 2006 he picked up one of his two career complete-game shutouts against Minnesota.

Tidbits
Michael Cuddyer said that his left hand felt much better on Thursday than it did the day before. He took two rounds of batting practice and could possibly be ready to go on a rehab assignment as soon as next week. Triple-A Rochester, a possible destination, is home all next week. ... Gardenhire on the Twins' inactivity on the trade front Thursday: "[Smith] was trying. I talked to him over the last couple weeks. He was talking to different people and seeing different things. Trying to strengthen ball club and not wanting to hurt it -- that's what he was trying to do. Trying to make some moves that make sense and not destroy what we have here, now or for the future. He worked a lot of different angles. I listened to it, just wasn't out there in the cards."

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Up next
• Saturday: Twins (Kevin Slowey, 7-7, 4.00) vs. Indians (Paul Byrd, 5-10, 4.93), 6:10 p.m. CT
• Sunday: Twins (Glen Perkins, 8-3, 4.20) vs. Indians (Matt Ginter, 1-2, 4.20), 1:10 p.m. CT
• Monday: Twins (TBA) at Mariners (Miguel Batista, 4-11, 6.43), 9:10 p.m. CT