Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - Michael Cuddyer had two hits, two RBI and scored twice as Minnesota blitzed Washington, 9-3, in the finale of a three- game interleague series from the Metrodome.

"Coming off that road trip, we won a series in Milwaukee then came in to sweep here, it gives us momentum with the Diamondbacks coming to town," Cuddyer noted. "Hopefully we'll have a good weekend."

Minnesota hosts the NL West leaders for three games beginning Friday.

Brian Buscher went 2-for-3, drove in two and scored a run for the Twins, who swept the set and have won five of six. Both Joe Mauer and Jason Kubel added a pair of hits, an RBI, and scored two runs apiece.

Minnesota starter Glen Perkins (3-2) went eight innings for the win, his first in five starts, allowing 10 hits and three runs with a pair of strikeouts.

Dmitri Young homered for the Nationals, who have lost three straight after winning three in a row. Cristian Guzman had two hits and knocked in a run and Elijah Dukes also picked up an RBI in defeat.

Shawn Hill (1-4) was saddled with the loss, torched in his start for 10 hits and seven runs -- six earned -- over 3 2/3 frames.

"I don't ever expect a turn like that. It was as bad as it gets. I expect better than that. I somehow have to bounce back. It's getting a little tiring for me. It's frustrating because this isn't the way I like to be throwing."

It was only the second time all season Hill failed to pitch at least through the fifth inning, the other coming in a loss at Arizona on June 1.

The Twins separated themselves in the fourth, turning a one-run lead into a five-run bulge.

Buscher singled and moved to third on a Brendan Harris double. Two batters later, Alexi Casilla's sacrifice fly made it 4-2 and Mauer followed with a dribbling infield single to second which plated Harris.

Justin Morneau singled, then Cuddyer stroked a bouncing triple to the wall in left-center which plated two more for a 7-2 game.

In the seventh, the Twins tacked on two more. Cuddyer walked against Joel Hanrahan, went to third on Kubel's double and scored on a wild pitch. Delmon Young's groundout moved Kubel to third and a Buscher single scored him.

Young's leadoff homer in the eighth gave Washington its third run of the contest and Casilla's error put a man on, but Perkins completed his outing by retiring the next three batters.

Craig Breslow held the Nats off the board in the ninth to finish off the victory.

Minnesota picked up the game's first runs in the second inning. Cuddyer led off with a walk and scored when Kubel sliced a triple off the plastic covering near the foul pole in right. After Young fouled out, Buscher chased home Kubel with a line single to left.

Washington equalized in its next turn, on consecutive RBI singles from Guzman and Dukes, but the Twins went up 3-2 in the home half.

Mauer singled then scored on Cuddyer's double, helped by Wily Mo Pena's bobble while fielding the ball off the wall in left.