Twins 11, Cubs 3: Trevor Plouffe homered, doubled and drove in four runs as host Minnesota pounded skidding Chicago.

Joe Mauer had three hits and two RBIs in his return to the lineup and Scott Diamond tossed six scoreless innings as the Twins won for the sixth time in seven games and handed the Cubs their fourth straight loss.

Staked to an early 8-0 lead, Diamond (5-1) allowed seven hits, struck out five and did not walk a batter to lower his ERA to 1.61 and improve to 3-0 in four starts at Target Field.

Cubs starter Jeff Samardzija (5-4) was battered for a season-high eight runs on nine hits in 3 2/3 innings to match his shortest outing of the year.

Alfonso Soriano hit his third homer in two days for the spiraling Cubs, who dipped to 1-8 on their 10-game road trip.

Plouffe hit his ninth homer in the fifth inning and had a two-run ground-rule double in a six-run fourth inning, one of four RBI doubles in the frame.

Josh Willingham had a pair of hits and an RBI to extend his hitting streak to 12 games and Minnesota collected 16 hits to improve to 9-2 in its last 11 games.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The Cubs fell to 4-20 in their last 24 games and absorbed their major league-worst 25th road loss. ... In four home starts, Diamond has allowed three runs in 26 1/3 innings. ... Mauer had sat out the previous four games with a sprained right thumb. He had two of his three hits, including an RBI double, in Minnesota's six-run fourth. Twins CF Denard Span also returned to the lineup with two hits and an RBI double. ... Soriano's homer was his 12th of the year, all coming in the last 24 games, and extended his hitting streak to six games. ... Cubs LF David DeJesus was hitless in three at-bats and had his 17-game hitting streak in Minnesota snapped. He had hit safely in all 10 of his previous games at Target Field.