The Twins faced Fausto Carmona for the first time since last July, and in that disastrous first start back from the disabled list Carmona gave up six runs in the first inning and three more before he left after 2 1/3 innings. Friday the Twins saw a much better version of Carmona than they did last summer, but the Indians got the same Nick Blackburn they always do.

In five career starts against Cleveland, Blackburn has allowed only five runs and has never lost to Minnesota's Central Division foe.

When Carmona left after his 104th pitch with no outs and runners on second and third in the seventh inning, Blackburn sat comfortably in the Twins' dugout with his pitch count at an economical 87. Cleveland's lineup is back to its robust state with Travis Hafner and Victor Martinez healthy again, but it meant little to Blackburn.

Before Friday's game Twins manager Ron Gardenhire warned that quot;these guys kill your mistakes, just kill you,quot; and his 27-year-old starter took heed.

Blackburn and Carmona both rely heavily on their sinkers, and though Carmona's is significantly nastier, Blackburn's, on Friday at least, was more consistent.

Of the right-hander's 99 pitches, 69 were strikes, and for the first time this season, Blackburn didn't issue a walk. Cleveland managed six hits off Blackburn and eight total, and only once moved a runner past second base.

Against Carmona, Minnesota's lineup worked slow and steady. The Twins scored one run in the first inning, two in the fourth and two more in the seventh, and once Blackburn left the bullpen cruised.

Jose Mijares set up for Joe Nathan with a one-hit eighth, and despite Minnesota's four-run lead the underworked Nathan pitched the ninth. Nathan gave up a hit and struck out two.