"Twins pitcher Francisco Liriano, out since a two-inning performance in a 6-1 loss to Baltimore on Aug. 25, will travel to Southern California this weekend to meet with Angels physician Lewis Yocum about his sore left shoulder.

The left-hander gave up an earned run on two hits and three walks in his last start, his seventh of less than five innings this season, complaining of shoulder soreness. An MRI exam, team trainer Rick McWane said Friday, "didn't show anything that you really wouldn't expect to see."

In fact, McWane said, the findings were identical to those of an MRI Liriano had in May.

According to McWane, Yocum, a nationally known orthopedic specialist, agreed with Twins doctors' prognosis and treatment plan.

"But (Liriano) is still going to come out here and meet with him in person," he said.

Liriano, 27, threw a no-hitter, his first, at Chicago on May 3 and has at times shown how dominant he can be. But for the most part, 2011 has been a disappointment after last season's career renaissance, when he went 14-10 with a 3.62 earned-run average and appeared finally recovered from Tommy John surgery performed in fall 2006.

Since the end of June, Liriano is 5-2 but his ERA is 4.68, and he had starts of 4-1/3, 2-1/3 and two innings.

Liriano hasn't thrown a ball since his last start. Asked whether it was reasonable to expect him to pitch again this season, McWane said, "It's reasonable." "