(Sports Network) - Facing a former club, Minnesota's Livan Hernandez will try to halt his lengthy winless drought tonight, as the Twins kick off a three- game interleague series with the Washington Nationals at the Metrodome.

Hernandez pitched with the Nationals franchise from 2003-06 before getting dealt during the '06 season to Arizona. The 33-year-old then joined the Twins prior to this season and pitched well early on, going 6-1 with a 3.90 earned run average in his first nine starts.

However, since besting Boston on May 12 to run his personal win streak to three games, Hernandez has gone 0-3 in six starts, while allowing at least five runs in each of his last six outings. He has also permitted double-digit hits in five of his last seven starts and leads the majors with 136 hits allowed through 15 starts.

The right-hander's latest disaster came on Thursday in Cleveland, as he gave up seven runs on 12 hits over just three innings of work, falling to 6-4 with a 5.84 ERA. Hernandez is 6-5 with a 4.19 ERA in 12 starts against Washington.

The Twins return home after a 3-7 road trip. The record could have been worse, but the club managed to take two of three in Milwaukee. Minnesota was denied a sweep of the Brewers due to Sunday's 4-2 setback.

Jason Kubel had a solo home run for the Twins, while Alexi Casilla drove in a run for Minnesota, which is 4 1/2 games behind the Chicago White Sox for first place in the American League Central.

Scott Baker (2-2) was the hard-luck loser but did become the first pitcher in franchise history to strike out four batters in an inning, turning the trick in the third frame.

Washington will try to give John Lannan some run support tonight. Lannan is 0-3 over his last four starts despite a 3.52 ERA, as the Nationals have scored just six runs over his last four trips to the hill.

Lannan faced the Pirates on Wednesday and got the loss after giving up two runs on seven hits over six innings. It marked the sixth time in the left- hander's last seven starts that he had gone at least six innings.

The 23-year-old has never faced the Twins and is 4-7 with a 3.43 ERA this year.

The Nationals enter this series off their first three-game sweep of the season and first since September 24-26 of last year against the Mets. Washington bested Seattle in all three games over this past weekend, clinching the sweep with Sunday's 6-2 win.

Kory Casto picked the perfect time for his first major league home run, as his pinch-hit three-run shot in the eighth inning led the Nationals to the win. Lastings Milledge added a sacrifice fly later in the inning, lifting the Nats to a 4-2 mark so far on their nine-game road trip.

Washington is also expected to activate catcher Paul Lo Duca from the 15-day disabled list today. Lo Duca has missed the last 36 games since hitting the DL with a fractured right hand and lost his spot as the starting backstop for Washington. Lo Duca is expected to see action both in left field and first base while backing up starter Jesus Flores behind the plate.

The 36-year-old is hitting a paltry .200 over 17 games with four runs batted in this season, though he is a lifetime .333 hitter (18-for-54) against Hernandez with two homers and 10 RBI.

Minnesota is visiting the Nats in Washington for the first time since the club relocated to the nation's capital. The Twins last visited the franchise in 2004, positing a three-game sweep of the then-Expos in Montreal.

Washington took two of three in Minnesota last season.