Jonathan Schoop on his walk-off homer vs. Nats (more clubhouse quotes)

Orioles second baseman Jonathan Schoop may have been just following instructions. He came to bat in the last of the ninth of a 2-2 tie with two outs and none on.

He got a 2-2 slider from right-hander Tanner Roark that he drove into the left-field seats to send a sellout crowd of 46,289 into a frenzy, giving the Orioles a walk-off 3-2 win over the Washington Nationals to start a big weekend series.

"Manny (Machado) told me to hit a double and he could drive me in or hit a home run," Schoop said. "One of those two. I said, 'I would try to hit a double for you, and you drive me in.' I didn't want to be selfish but, we're brothers. I know he is really happy for me right now.

"To be honest I thought yes, (the ball was gone), but the ball kept dying. I said, 'Get up, please get up.' I hit a slider and I was looking for a pitch I could drive. Just wanted to get something to hit hard and drive."

After missing about 10 weeks with a knee injury, this was one satisfying homer and win for Schoop.

"It's exciting," he said. "I'm glad I'm here with my teammates and my friends. Really happy and especially to help the team win. This was really big. Every game is big, but we want to build some momentum, take a break, and then win as many games as we can and get back to the playoffs.

"This was my first walk-off ever, in the minors, too. I think so. I'm really excited, and to get a win. I wish I could get pied every day. You get pied, you did something good."

For Schoop, five of his 11 hits this year have been homers, and he has has five homers 44 at-bats. The Orioles are 19-2 in his career when he has homered.

Tonight makes all that rehab work seem like it paid off.

"Yeah, it makes it worth it," he said. "You work so hard to be back and it is paying off right now. I have to keep going."

Elsewhere around the Orioles clubhouse:

Chris Tillman on his outing tonight: "It has been getting better and better as the year has gone on. Fastball command has been getting better each time, and for the most part, it was pretty good tonight.

"That inning we scored and I gave up the two right after that I felt like I got beat on the ground. That is a goal, to keep the ball on the ground. Anytime you give up a run after we score, it is disappointing. But I can't beat myself up over it. You are trying to get groundballs."

Tillman on Schoop: "Awesome. He's done that a couple of times I feel like. Put a good swing on a good pitch."

Tillman on getting key outs to hold the Nats to two runs: "I feel like I had a good changeup tonight. That is a pitch that has gotten me through a lot of games in the past and is something I've been working on. Made good pitches with it tonight to both sides of the plate to keep them honest."

Matt Wieters on the victory: "Just to get a win and after a tough road trip and get a win late in the game. We had games where we could not mount a comeback. Tonight we did against a good pitching staff. You want to win the games you should win and also when you can sneak away with some when you trailed late, it is nice to get those."

Wieters on decision to not catch back-to-back tomorrow: "Going every other day, I feel I'm available every day to where I could go in and catch if I need to. It felt good doing it, but I think a little bit longer of doing the every other day will be good for my arm. Caleb (Joseph) has caught well, and this will keep us fresher."