Gonzalez's bat gives Nats first run against Angels (Nats rally to win 5-4)

Nationals starter Gio Gonzalez got himself out of a pair of jams early and then contributed with his bat to get his team the early advantage.

In the first inning with one away, the Angels got a double from Mike Trout and a single from Albert Pujols. Howie Kendrick walked to load the bases. Gonzalez then got Erick Aybar to ground into an inning-ending double play. Ian Desmond caught Aybar's short blooper and then threw back to second base to double up Pujols.

In the second frame, the Angels collected a base hit from Chris Iannetta and a walk by J.B. Shuck with only one away. Gonzalez then recorded two outs to keep the game scoreless.

In the bottom of the second with Danny Espinosa on third base and two outs, Gonzalez slapped a single to left field to score the first run of the game for a 1-0 Nationals lead.

Update: The Angels got on the board in the sixth. After a walk to Trout, Pujols laced a double down the left field line that took a wicked bounce back onto the field in front of Bryce Harper.

Trout scored to tie the game at 1-1. After Aaron Barrett replaced Gonzalez, Erick Aybar's run-scoring single scored Pujols and the Angels led 2-1. Jose Lobaton threw out Aybar trying to steal second base to end the threat.

Update II: The Angels added to their lead in the seventh. David Freese led off with a double and went to third on a groundout. After a strikeout of pinch-hitter Ian Stewart, Barrett uncorked a wild pitch, scoring Freese and Los Angeles led 3-1.

Update III: Trout added a run-scoring single on a sharp line drive to left field with two outs in the ninth. It was his second base hit of the game. The huge insurance tally came off of Drew Storen and the Angels led 4-1.

Jose Lobaton slammed a solo shot to lead off the bottom of the ninth, his first home run in a Nationals uniform. The blast off of Angels reliever Ernesto Frieri cut Los Angeles' lead to 4-2.

Following a Zach Walters strikeout, Denard Span singled to center and Anthony Rendon walked.

On a 3-0 count, Jayson Werth pulled a double down the left field line, scoring two runs to tie the game at 4-4.

Adam LaRoche stepped in against reliever Fernando Salas and promptly ripped a single to left-center, scoring Werth from second and capping the Nationals' comeback to beat the Angels, 5-4. It was the Nationals' seventh come-from-behind win of the season to improve to 12-10.