WASHINGTON -- Trailing by two runs with two men on in the bottom of the ninth inning, Washingtons Jayson Werth worked a 3-0 count against Angels closer Ernesto Frieri. Alonzo Mourning Heat Jersey . Time to take a pitch, right? "I cant imagine anybody thinking that J-Dubs going to swing," Werths teammate Adam LaRoche said. "Surprised all of us." Werth did indeed go after the next pitch, hitting it down the third-base line for a game-tying, two-run double that ended Frieris rough outing. LaRoche then produced an RBI single off the first pitch from Fernando Salas to cap a four-run rally in the ninth, and the Nationals beat the Angels 5-4 Wednesday night to avoid a sweep. "You hit into a double play right there, its probably the worst play youve ever seen," Werth said. "If you get a hit, its the best." Los Angeles led 4-1 entering the ninth, and Frieri (0-2) was seeking his third save. Instead, he left with his second blown chance, charged with all four runs Washington scored in that inning. The Nationals trailed in seven of their 12 wins. "I knew that he was going to swing," Frieri said. "Hes a power guy. So I tried to keep the ball down. But I still missed it right down the middle. ... I mean, today was a mess, man." Still, manager Mike Scioscia indicated he will keep Frieri in the closers role. "He just got a save the other night," Scioscia said. "Its in him. We just need to get him a little more consistent." Part of Frieris problem was failing to put away Jose Lobaton leading off the ninth after getting ahead 0-2. Lobaton hit his first homer of the season. "The spark we needed," Werth said. One out later, Werth made it 4-all. On LaRoches liner to left, Werth beat the throw from Mike Trout, crossed the plate with a fist raised and was greeted by teammates streaming out of the dugout. They then headed over to swarm LaRoche. "He left a fastball up over the plate," LaRoche said. "In that situation, just trying to hit something hard." Drew Storen (2-0) got one out in the ninth for the victory, despite giving up an RBI single to Trout. That hit scored Raul Ibanez, who reached when first baseman LaRoche was charged with an error for dropping the ball while transferring it from his glove to his throwing hand after catching a line drive. "Its one of the worst rules Ive ever heard of. I dont feel like its baseball," LaRoche said. "It doesnt make sense. Its frustrating, especially in a close game where that could have ended up costing us. Hopefully well get that rule changed sooner than later." Trout robbed Bryce Harper of a hit with a headfirst diving catch in the first, then beat a throw home from his fellow 2012 Rookie of the Year to score in the sixth. A night after hitting his 499th and 500th homers, Albert Pujols went 2 for 4 with an RBI double, while Jered Weaver allowed one run in six innings. But the Angels dropped to 10-11, blowing an opportunity to climb above .500 for the first time since they were 1-0 last season. Washingtons Gio Gonzalez gave up two runs over five-plus innings, leaving after only 83 pitches because of what manager Matt Williams called "a little shoulder tightness." "Ordinarily I wouldnt take him out of the game there, but we want to make sure hes OK for our future, too," Williams said. Gonzalez, who also drove in Washingtons first run, said he expects to make his next start. So much attention at the start of this series was on Trout, 22, and Harper, 21, first-round draft picks who were Arizona Fall League teammates in 2011 but hadnt played each other in the majors until Monday. Yanked from a game last weekend for what Williams called "lack of hustle," Harper went from what appeared to be a jog to a sprint when his grounder in the eighth was fumbled by first baseman Pujols, who was charged with an error. "Hes safe at first base. Thats all I care about," Williams said. "Were not asking him to go 100 per cent all the time, as fast as he can possibly go at every single moment. Because not everybody does." NOTES: After a day off, the Angels put LHP C.J. Wilson (2-2, 4.21) on the mound Friday against Yankees RHP Hiroki Kuroda (2-1, 4.07) for the start of a three-game series at New York. ... The Nationals begin a four-game set Thursday against visiting San Diego, with RHP Jordan Zimmermann (1-1, 3.92) facing Padres LHP Eric Stults (1-2, 4.35). Tyler Herro Jersey .K. Subban and Matt Duchene will be the two skaters sitting out the teams opening game. Kendrick Nunn Heat Jersey . For the Athletics, hes extremely important at the top of the order, especially with Coco Crisp hurting. Jaso drove in three runs Sunday night, helping Scott Kazmir and Oakland beat the Texas Rangers 9-3. https://www.heatlockerroom.com/Kz-Okpala-City-Edition-Jersey/ . -- Former Penn State coach Joe Paterno was admitted to the hospital Friday for observation due to minor complications from cancer treatments, his family said.New York, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - Kemba Walker and the Charlotte Hornets keep on rolling, while the hapless New York Knicks continue to lose. Walkers 28 points propelled the Hornets to their season-high fifth straight win, a 110-82 dismantling of the Knicks that extended New Yorks franchise- record skid to 15 games. Walker needed just 28 minutes to record his game-best total, and the New York City native has helped offset an injury to Al Jefferson by averaging 30.2 points during the win streak. Bismack Biyombo delivered season highs of 14 points and 12 rebounds for Charlotte, which received 15 points from P.J. Hairston and 14 from Brian Roberts in the rout. We have been moving the basketball, playing good defense, and we have great communication out there, said Walker. Everyone is in the right spot and just making plays. For the Knicks, whose last eight defeats have come by double digits, this may have been rock-bottom in a season of low points. They trailed by as many as 45 in the second half before reducing the deficit as the Hornets pulled their starters in the fourth quarter. It was a tough afternoon, for sure, Knicks head coach Derek Fisher said. We all have to continue to learn that its not easy to win in this league. Were obviously finding that out the hard way. Quincy Acy was one bright spot for New York, finishing with 18 points on 6- of-9 shooting. Tim Hardaway Jr. and Shane Larkin had 15 and 12 points, respectively. Charlotte held just a 21-18 lead after one quarter and a 30-27 edge early in the second, then proceeded to paste the Knicks over the remainder of the first half. The Hornetss outscored New York by a whopping 32-4 margin over the final 8:35 of the period to enter the break owning a commanding 62-31 advantage. Wayne Ellington Heat Jersey. The Hornets began to pull away behind a 13-2 run, which New Yorks Langston Galloway temporarily stopped with a jumper with 4:31 to go in the quarter to bring the Knicks within 43-31. New York didnt score again for the rest of the first half, with Charlotte closing the frame out on a 19-0 tear. Walker did most of the damage, dropping in 10 points during the surge to finish with 20 for the initial two quarters. The Knicks offensive ineptitude extended beyond the stoppage, as they went 5- of-21 from the floor during a 13-point third quarter in which the Hornets continued to pour it on. Biyombo finished off a 9-0 sequence with an alley-oop dunk to put Charlotte up by 40, 73-33, near the midway mark of the third. It was a 45-point spread entering the fourth when two Jason Maxiell free throws made the score 89-44. With the Hornets fielding their second and third-team units, New York ended the game on a 16-7 run to make the final outcome slightly more respectable. Game Notes Charlotte is 13-6 this season when Walker scores 18 points or more and 2-18 when he hasnt hit that mark ... The Hornets are on their first four-game road winning streak since Jan. 18-28, 2011 ... Hairston (illness) and forward Cody Zeller (strained right shoulder) both returned to action for Charlotte after missing Thursdays win at Toronto ... The Knicks were whistled for 24 fouls, which led to a 25-of-33 performance at the foul line for the Hornets. ' ' '