MLB: Minnesota 11, Cleveland 0

• Tweet

MINNEAPOLIS, July 27 (UPI) -- Scott Diamond hurled his first career shutout and Josh Willingham backed him with four RBI Friday in the Minnesota Twins' 11-0 rout of Cleveland.

Diamond (9-4) retired the first 14 Indians batters and ended up with a three-hitter.

The Canadian left-hander didn't allow a walk and struck out six, hurling 67 of his 98 pitches for strikes.

Willingham's three-run homer, his 26th home run of the season, capped a five-run fourth inning that handed Minnesota an 8-0 lead.

Justin Morneau cracked a three-run shot and Joe Mauer went 3-for-5 with a pair of RBI singles and three runs scored for the Twins, who took the opener of a three-game series.

Tribe starter Josh Tomlin (5-8) was lit up for eight runs on 10 hits, lasting just four innings.

The third-place Indians came into the contest trailing the American League Central-leading Chicago White Sox by 3 1/2 games.