Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - Justin Morneau provided all the offense Minnesota needed with a two-run homer in the sixth inning, as the Twins edged the Washington Nationals, 2-1, in the opener of a three-game set from the Metrodome.

Joe Mauer went 2-for-3 and scored a run for the Twins, who have won three of their last four contests.

Livan Hernandez (7-4) picked up the win as he went seven innings and gave up just one run on five hits. Hernandez snapped a six-game winless streak and is now 5-0 at home this season. The veteran right-hander had given up 64 hits and 33 earned runs during his winless skid.

"He never throws the same thing, he mixes his pitches and he's just a really confident pitcher," Washington's second baseman Felipe Lopez said of Hernandez. "He's a really smart pitcher too."

Joe Nathan earned his 18th save of the season, working a scoreless ninth.

Cristian Guzman had the only RBI for the Nationals, who saw their three-game win streak snapped. Paul Lo Duca had a double and scored Washington's lone run in his first game back from the disabled list.

John Lannan (4-8) took the loss as he was touched for two runs on five hits in seven innings.

The Nats jumped on top in the third frame. Lo Duca hit a one-out double to right, moved to third on Kory Casto's groundout and came home on Guzman's single.

Lannan gave up just one hit, a double to Mauer in the fourth, through the first five innings. However, Mauer cracked a two-out single in the sixth and Morneau gave the Twins the lead as he belted the first pitch he saw over the fence in right.

"I was looking for something off speed, he threw me a curveball," Morneau said. "It ended up going in the seats and it's a big win for us."

Nathan took to the hill for the Twins in the ninth and walked Casto. Guzman then flied out and Elijah Dukes went down staring at the third strike for the second out. Lastings Milledge then grounded out to end the game.