MINNEAPOLIS, July 2 (UPI) -- Nick Blackburn and two relievers combined on a five-hit shutout Wednesday as the Minnesota Twins trounced the Detroit Tigers 7-0.
Blackburn (7-4) surrendered three hits in seven scoreless innings before relievers Jesse Crain and Boof Bonser finished the shutout.
Catcher Joe Mauer had two hits, one a two-run single in the bottom of the third inning.
Five others had one RBI, including Delmon Young and Carlos Gomez, who had three hits apiece.
Like Mauer, Nick Punto had two hits for the Twins, who have won three of four and 10 their last 12 games at the Metrodome.
Losing pitcher Eddie Bonine (2-1) yielded five runs -- two earned -- and seven hits in 2 2/3 innings.
Placido Polanco had two of the five hits for the Tigers, who had won six straight when the three-game series began on Monday but lost the final two contests.
