masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgWASHINGTON – Nick Markakis broke a 1-1 tie in the top of the 11th inning with his seventh home run, a shot to right field off Nationals reliever Ryan Mattheus that was gone the second it left his bat.

“Slider down in, I’m pretty sure that’s what it was,” Markakis said. “I wasn’t looking for too too much there. I wasn’t expecting that. I was just trying to have a good at-bat and put a good swing on it. It went out of the park and we end up winning the game.”

Just another extra-inning…WASHINGTON – Nick Markakis broke a 1-1 tie in the top of the 11th inning with his seventh home run, a shot to right field off Nationals reliever Ryan Mattheus that was gone the second it left his bat.

“Slider down in, I’m pretty sure that’s what it was,” Markakis said. “I wasn’t looking for too too much there. I wasn’t expecting that. I was just trying to have a good at-bat and put a good swing on it. It went out of the park and we end up winning the game.”

Just another extra-inning win for the Orioles.

“Look at our lineup,” Markakis said. “It’s a tough lineup to face up and down. (Adam) Jonesy’s been a big part of that. It’s just all around. It’s just guys are getting hits when we need them. And our bullpen, what can you say about them? They’re doing a great job. It’s a battle. You battle all game until it’s over.”

Markakis didn’t care who struck the big blow tonight. It just happened to be him.

“It’s exciting to win any game, no matter how you win it,” he said. “To win it that way in extra innings on the road, it’s definitely a good feeling.

“It’s going to take a lot to put us down, and we keep getting up and battling and having great at-bats. Go back to our bullpen. It’s probably one of the best bullpens in baseball. You’ve got to give them credit, especially in these late extra-inning games. They’ve been keeping us in that game, allowing us to get back in there and score some runs. From top to bottom, it’s a team effort, and we’re showing that.

“It’s fun anytime you’re winning, no matter what sport it is. We have a bunch of competitive guys in this locker room, whether it’s playing cards or ping-pong or baseball. Guys don’t like to lose. Once you have that atmosphere in the clubhouse and you bring on to the baseball field, it shows a lot, and it shows a lot about your character and your team.”