The O's now have second-best record in the majors (plus other notes)

Here are a few notes and observations after the Orioles pulled off their second straight walk-off win last night, beating the Rockies 3-2 on an error in the 10th inning:

Cubs first, O's second: Remember when the Chicago Cubs got off to that incredible start and were the talk of baseball? Chicago was 25-6 on May 10 and looked to be easily the best team in the majors.

The Cubs still have the best record in the majors this morning at 59-39 (.602). But they are just one game better than the Orioles at 58-40 (.592). The Orioles hold the top record in the American League and the second-best record in the majors.

Pitching leads the way: Since ending a four-game losing streak, which had a few fans very nervous it seemed, the Orioles have won five in a row. This winning streak has been led by the O's pitching staff. They have outscored their opponents 22-9 in the five victories.

The O's pitchers allowed one, one, two, three and two runs during the streak with a team ERA of 1.37. The rotation ERA is 1.38 in that time. The team batting average is just .253 and the Orioles are 8-for-37 (.216) with runners in scoring position during the streak. But when you allow just nine runs, you can win some games.

Johnny Baseball with a big hit: With Adam Jones on first base and one out in the last of the 10th, second baseman Jonathan Schoop took a 2-2 pitch over the outside corner and punched it into right field for a big hit. It sent Jones to third base where he scored on the throwing error by pitcher Jordan Lyles to win the game.

In 2014, according to FanGraphs.com statistics, Schoop pulled the ball 49.7 percent of the time and hit to the opposite field 18.6 percent. Last year, those numbers were 42.8 and 25.8 and this year they are 44.3 and 25.3, respectively. He can sure turn on the ball and hit long home runs to left and left-center. But Schoop can now also take the ball where it is pitched and single to right as he did last night. He's come a long way as a hitter since 2014.

"It's good to see the growth in that man," Jones said after last night's win.

Schoop hit .209 in 2014, .279 last year and he's batting .296 this season. Since batting .218 this April, Schoop has hit .316 over 75 games.

Gallardo was good: For Orioles pitcher Yovani Gallardo, it seems that less nibbling and being more aggressive has led to lower pitch counts and more innings.

In his first start of the second half on July 15 in St. Petersburg against the Rays, Gallardo threw 29 pitches in the first inning, 29 more in the second and was at a staggering total of 77 after three innings.

But in his last start at New York, he had a four-inning stretch where he threw just 35 pitches. In going 6 2/3 while allowing two runs last night against the Rockies, he needed just 35 pitches over the first three innings. He threw 108 for the night.

"(I was) just trying to be too fine," Gallardo said of those earlier high-pitch count games. "Trying to make that perfect pitch from the first pitch. I know it sounds pretty simple, but that is the thing. You miss with that first pitch and try to do the same thing with the second and you miss again, you get yourself into a hitter's count and that pitch count is going to go up.

"After that start in Tampa, I just have to be more aggressive. Let the other team swing the bat early in the count and get the ground balls. Just feel like the last two starts I've been doing that and it allowed me to go deep into the ballgames. I just have to continue that and feed off of that and keep staying consistent."

Gallardo has gone seven and 6 2/3 innings in his past two starts after throwing less than six innings in eight of his first 10 starts. He is beginning to look more like the veteran pitcher that went 13-11 with a 3.42 ERA and ranked 11th in the AL last year for Texas.

For the ninth time in 13 games, the O's starting pitcher allowed two or fewer earned runs last night. In that 13-game run, O's starters have pitched to an ERA of 2.88.