The spiraling Cleveland Indians take a 10-game losing streak into tonight's clash with the Minnesota Twins from Progressive Field.
After experiencing the worst road trip in their 112-year history as a franchise, the Tribe returned home Monday and did anything but stem the tide.
Justin Morneau launched a pair of home runs, knocked in four runs and scored three times, as the Twins sent Cleveland to its 10th straight loss with a 14-3 drubbing in the opener of a three-game series.
Ben Revere went 4-for-5 with three runs scored to extend his hitting streak to 20 games and Joe Mauer drove in three runs for the Twins, who scored 10 runs in the second inning en route to their fourth victory in their last five contests. They reached double digits in an inning for the first time since a 10-run seventh frame on June 4, 2002 -- also against the Indians.
Josh Willingham smoked a solo homer and Ryan Doumit clubbed a three-run shot in the lopsided victory. Morneau hit his 200th career home run.
"It's one of those things that I'm able to appreciate," said Morneau about his 200th career homer. "Sometimes, when you're younger, you take it for granted that you're going to play until you're 40 and everything's going to go great, but you go through some tough times, and everybody does, but this is something you can be proud of."
Scott Diamond (10-5) allowed three runs -- two earned -- on seven hits and a walk with three strikeouts to win for the second time in his last three decisions.
Carlos Santana clubbed a two-run homer for the Indians, whose current streak of futility reached double digits for the first time since the club lost 11 in a row from September 13-24, 2009.
Zach McAllister (4-4) was knocked around for nine runs -- two earned -- on six hits and two walks in just 1 2/3 innings.
"When they get on a roll, it's hard to get guys out and that's what I ran into today," said McAllister.
"I'm not sure I'll ever see anything like that again," Indians manager Manny Acta added when talking about the 10-run frame. "That second inning was unreal. Zach pitched so well in the first, but came back out and just didn't have his command."
The Indians have now been outscored 88-31 during their 10-game skid.
Trying to stop the bleeding on Tuesday will be rookie right-hander Corey Kluber, who was ineffective in his first major league start, allowing six runs in the first inning in a 7-6 loss in Kansas City last Thursday.
His counterpart is fellow rookie Samuel Deduno, who is 3-0 and allowed a combined two runs in his last three starts. The righty permitted just two hits over six innings in a 5-0 win in Boston last Thursday and that came on the heels of a 12-5 win over Cleveland on July 28 in which he yielded one run and two hits in a career-high seven innings.
The Twins have prevailed in six of nine previous bouts with the Indians this season and took two of three from Cleveland at Progressive Field back in early June.
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