In his first game back with the big league club since being optioned to Triple-A St. Paul, starter Randy Dobnak had a night that he described as "special."

Dobnak threw six shutout innings and helped lead the Twins to a decisive 10-0 win over the Indians on Friday at Progressive Field in front of a number of friends and family -- including his grandfather, who had yet to see him pitch in person in the Majors.

• Box score

“My Pap has never seen me pitch in the big leagues,” Dobnak said. “He’s older, obviously, so it was pretty cool to see him get out here and see me pitch for the first time. He’s seen me pitch in college and in the Minor Leagues but never in the big leagues, so special day.”

• Notes: Kirilloff, Dobnak return; injury news

Dobnak had little trouble on the mound and received all the run support the Twins needed after they exploded for a nine-run fourth inning -- which included a two-run single from rookie Alex Kirilloff, who returned on Friday from a right wrist injury.

The right-hander gave up three hits and walked two against the 24 batters he faced, which included 11 ground-ball outs in his first start of the season.

“I mean it was awesome, obviously,” Dobnak said. “Today I kind of just had [it]. It's always a good day when you can kind of locate your pitches wherever you want them to, no matter the count, really. So I had that working for me early on and kind of just rolled with that. We had a simple game plan and we stuck to it.”

Before being optioned on May 3, Dobnak has been used exclusively out of the bullpen over his seven previous outings and posted an 0-3 record with an 8.16 ERA in 2021.

Prior to the start on Friday, Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said the goal was for Dobnak to be stretched out in his outings and hopefully reach around a 75-pitch mark.

Baldelli said Dobnak’s ability to complete a sixth shutout inning was a key moment for the righty, who threw 93 pitches.

“He really pulled it together,” Baldelli said. “He was pretty sharp for most of the day, but I do think he had to work through some things. Going out there to throw that sixth inning when he was already right around his, I wouldn't say limit, but where he's been before. We wanted to push him a little bit.”

Since debuting in 2019, Dobnak had been used as a starter in 15 of his 26 career MLB outings. He made 10 starts with the Twins in the shortened 2020 season, posting a 4.05 ERA in that span.

After a rocky start to 2021, Dobnak said his mindset has remained the same on the mound, and he looks to give his ballclub all that he’s got when the ball is in his hands.

“As far as confidence goes, I have the same confidence in myself going out there and giving up five [runs] in two innings or giving up zero in six,” he said. “I think my mental side of the game has been part of the reason I am where I am.

“I talk to a lot of younger guys and they’ll ask me about that. Honestly, the mental side is really important, and if you can control that part, I think good things are going to happen. Once you get inside your own head, I think, that’s when trouble arises. It’s just the way I’ve always been. I don’t know, maybe I’m weird, but whatever.”