WASHINGTON -- The stars aligned on Friday night for Jose Lobaton, the backup catcher for the Washington Nationals.

Lobaton got the start back of the plate since he is the regular catcher for Gio Gonzalez, the Nationals lefty starter. And the starting pitcher for the Twins was Kyle Gibson, who had given up two hits in as many at-bats to Lobaton prior to Friday.

Make that 4-for-4, as Lobaton had two hits and three RBIs and Danny Espinosa had two hits and two RBIs as the first-place Washington Nationals beat the last-place Minnesota Twins 8-4 in the first of three interleague series games.

"It is important for me but more important for the team," said Lobaton, who got his first three RBIs of the year. "I want the team to win games."

Lobaton had two hits in his first two at-bats against Gibson -- a two-run single in the first and an RBI triple in the third.

"Probably one of the most entertaining triples that you'll ever see," Nationals manager Dusty Baker said of the unique slide into third by Lobaton, who got his first triple since 2013.

Lobaton raised his average 157 points to .300, and the Nationals improved to 58-41 since 2014 when he starts back of the plate.

"The first three hitters I felt good, I felt sharp," said Gibson, who allowed a homer in the first inning Sunday to the Angels. "I felt like I carried it over from the bullpen to the mound. I am not sure it is anything about the first inning. I just lost it there for a little bit."

The Twins trimmed the lead to 8-3 in the seventh with a two-run single by Eduardo Nunez against reliever Shawn Kelley. Miguel Sano (two hits) smashed a solo homer in the eighth over reliever Felipe Rivero to make it 8-4.

Gonzalez (1-0) earned the victory, allowing three runs (two earned) with eight strikeouts in six innings plus three batters.

"He is throwing more strikes. That is the key for him," Lobaton said of Gonzalez. "For him (throwing strikes) is important."

The loser was Gibson, who is 0-3 for the first time in his career.

Anthony Rendon and Daniel Murphy also had two hits for the Nationals (12-4), who are 6-1 at home. Murphy has four hits in five career at-bats against Gibson while Lobaton is 4-for-4.

So was it a matter of Gibson and the Twins not having much tape on Murphy and Lobaton?

"I think they put a few good swings on some good pitches," Gibson said. "Lobaton hit a 3-2 change up in the second at-bat. I am sure it was probably down the middle. I don't know if it is anything like a lack of tape" on those hitters.

The Twins (5-12) are 1-8 on the road -- the worst mark in the majors. Former Nationals catcher Kurt Suzuki also had two hits for the Twins.

Jayson Werth lined a solo homer in the fifth -- his third of the year -- to give the Nationals a lead of 8-1 against Twins reliever Michael Tonkin.

The Nationals scored three runs in the third to make it 7-0, as Espinosa had an RBI single, Lobaton had an RBI triple and Gonzalez had a sacrifice fly.

Washington scored four runs in the first off Gibson. Murphy had an RBI single to score Bryce Harper, who had barely reached on a fielder's choice and went to second on a walk to Ryan Zimmerman.

Washington made it 2-0 later in the inning when Espinosa was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to score Zimmerman. Lobaton lined a two-run single to give the Nationals a 4-0 lead.

Joe Maurer of the Twins had an RBI single in the fourth to trim the margin to 7-1. Werth robbed Byron Buxton of a solo homer in the third when he reached above the fence in left for the catch.

The Twins were playing in Washington for the first time in regular-season play since June 8-9, 2013. But for another day their road woes continue.

"It was obvious the way the game went," Twins manager Paul Molitor said. "We got off to a bad start on the mound. (Gibson) is battling. He is just having trouble with consistency. We dug ourselves a hole."

NOTES: There was a moment of silence before the game for Prince, who died Thursday. ... Some of the Twins wore purple wrist bands to honor Prince, a native of Minnesota. ... Twins RHP Phil Hughes (1-2, 4.42 ERA) will face Washington RHP Tanner Roark (1-2, 3.71 ERA) in the second game of the series Saturday afternoon. ... Minnesota LHP Tommy Milone was drafted in the 10th round in 2008 by the Nationals. He pitched in five games in 2011 with Washington before he was traded to the Oakland A's after the season. ... Nationals OF Bryce Harper entered Friday with a league-high eight homers and 22 RBIs and had driven in a run in eight straight games. ... Twins C Kurt Suzuki played for the Nationals in 2012-13 before he was traded to Oakland in 2013 for RHP Dakota Bacus, now at Double-A Harrisburg in the Washington system. ... Washington manager Dusty Baker said OF Ben Revere (right oblique strain) is making progress after he went on the 15-day disabled list April 6. "He sprinted yesterday, which is a positive sign," Baker said.