March 31, 200620 yr Article CAPE CORAL, Fla. -- Minnesota Twins pitcher Francisco Liriano was arrested on a drunken driving charge when he was stopped for allegedly speeding on a southwest Florida road, authorities said Friday. Liriano, 22, was stopped while going 56 mph in a 35 mph zone and drifting in between lanes in his Lincoln Navigator early Thursday, Cape Coral police spokesman Angelo Bitsis said. An officer who conducted the traffic stop noticed a strong odor of alcohol and gave Liriano a field sobriety test, Bitsis said. Liriano registered a .133 blood-alcohol level on a breath test, Bitsis said. Florida's unlawful blood-alcohol level for drivers is 0.08. Liriano was taken into custody and later released on bond, the amount of which was not known Friday. Twins general manager Terry Ryan said Liriano still could begin the season with the club, but that the player would return to Cape Coral for his required court date, which has yet to be determined. "He's a kid. He's a young man who made a mistake," Ryan said. "He's embarrassed, and I'm embarrassed. He said he's embarrassed and that he made a mistake." Liriano, a left-handed pitcher from San Cristobal, Dominican Republic, made his major league debut in September and went 1-2 with a 5.70 ERA in 23 2/3 innings pitched last season. He is expected to start the season in the Twins' bullpen.
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