Jonathan Schoop on his go-ahead hit, plus other clubhouse quotes

Orioles second baseman Jonathan Schoop is putting the finishing touches on a strong first half. He had two more hits for the Orioles today, as he scored the tying run and drove in the go-ahead run in their 3-2 win over the Los Angeles Angels.

With runners on first and third in the eighth of a 2-2 tie, his line drive single to center put the Orioles ahead and sent them to their 50th win of the 2016 season.

"This is a big win," Schoop said. "The more at-bats you get, the more you learn. I wasn't trying to do too much. My first year, that situation, I would have tried to hit a sac (fly) or something. Now I said let me get a pitch I can hit hard somewhere and find a hole."

The Orioles won while Toronto lost and Boston won, so the O's lead atop the American League East is back at two games. They know they will be in first place at the All-Star break.

"We just have to finish strong tomorrow and think about tomorrow. And then get three days rest and come back stronger in the second half. Finish strong," Schoop said.

With one game left before the break, Schoop is batting .304 with 23 doubles, a triple, 14 homers, 52 RBIs, a .512 slugging percentage and with an OPS of .852. After batting .355 in June, he is hitting .364 in July.

"I feel really good about it, but I still have a lot more to prove," he said. "You can always get better. Every day you might learn something. I know I've had a big first half but I want to get better. Want to get better than I was last year and even in the first half."

Other clubhouse quotes:

Yovani Gallardo on his outing: "Overall it was good, we won. At the end of the day, no matter what the situation is, get that W. In that sixth inning, two strikes, get a ground ball and it goes for a base hit. Not much I can do about that. After that, you have to control the situation. I have to limit the walks. The walk to (Albert) Pujols, got to make a pitch and get a ground ball there."

Gallardo on his first half: "It's been a rough year, a little bit different going on the DL with a shoulder issue. But I've been feeling good since I've come back. I have to find that good rhythm. It seems to be always just that one inning. That inning I have to keep under control."

Gallardo on whether he was tiring today: "It was not an issue, I was feeling good and strong. Velocity was the same. Just a matter of overthrowing. I tried to put a little more behind the ball when I didn't need to. Any time you overthrow, the ball will come out over the plate."

Mychal Givens on getting out of a big jam in the sixth: "Just (tried to) limit the damage basically. Go out there and give us a chance to get back in the game. I was just staying in the zone and was making some pitches."

J.J. Hardy on the pitchers: "I thought he (Gallardo) was great. He was hitting his spots and mixing up his pitches and making the pitches when he needed to. Then the bullpen did what they do. (Givens) was very big. Bases loaded, got out of that. Made some nice pitches and he's been good for us, just like the rest of the bullpen."

Hardy on the team assured of being in first place at the break: "I mean it's good. Obviously we have a long way to go. But it's better than the alternative."

Brad Brach earned the win today and extended his scoreless streak to 10 games and 12 2/3 innings. His ERA is down to 0.93. Schoop is batting .422/.467/.675 over his last 20 games. The Orioles are now 32-14 at home.

Mark Trumbo's solo homer in the second inning was his major league-leading 28th. That ties Nelson Cruz (28 in 2014) for third-most by an Oriole at the All-Star break. Chris Davis hit 37 in 2013 and Brady Anderson hit 30 in 1996. Trumbo has hit four homers his last three games, homering in a season-high three consecutive games.