Nationals' bullpen falters late in 3-2 walk-off loss

BALTIMORE - The Nationals' bullpen couldn't protect a one-run lead as Orioles second baseman Jonathan Schoop launched a walk-off homer off Tanner Roark in the bottom of the ninth for a 3-2 win.

The only run Gio Gonzalez allowed came on a solo blast from Adam Jones in the fourth. Otherwise, the left-hander pitched brilliantly for the third consecutive start, exiting after walking Jimmy Paredes to begin the seventh as the Nationals held a 2-1 advantage.

Aaron Barrett followed Gonzalez to the mound, appearing in his first game since June 11. Barrett emerged from his disabled list stint by striking out J.J. Hardy and Schoop before getting Manny Machado to pop out to end the inning with Paredes stranded.

Nationals manager Matt Williams turned to Casey Janssen in the eighth. Orioles pinch-hitter Chris Parmelee reached safely on dribbler up the third base line. After Jones lined out, Williams called on lefty Matt Thornton to face Matt Wieters. Wieters wasted no time, belting Thornton's first offering into the right-center field gap. The ball rolled all the way to the wall as Parmelee sprinted around the bases to tie the game.

"I feel comfortable in that situation," Thornton said. "I'm looking to get a groundball and possibly get a double play. I had a game plan and he jumped the first pitch and was able to drive it on the perfect line to right-center where Parmelee got a great jump at first. It's always frustrating when you blow a game."

Roark received the call to start the ninth and delivered by whiffing Paredes and Hardy before Schoop stepped in the batter's box. On a 2-2 count, Roark opted for a slider and Schoop smacked it.

"He just got out and hooked it," Williams said. "Small ballpark and just got it over. That's the way this park plays sometimes."

Roark didn't want to use the hitter-friendly Camden Yards as an excuse.

"It is what it is," he said. "You just try to execute your pitches and what happens behind you happens behind you. There's a lot of parks that the ball flies. You still gotta pitch the same.

"I just checked it out. I thought it was a good pitch, maybe could have been a little lower. He put good wood on it and it got it."

The Nationals have now dropped three straight and their lead in the National League East is down to two games.

"It's a tough loss," Gonzalez said. "I think we have so many great guys. Everyone in that bullpen, I love 'em to death. I wouldn't change anything about it. These guys bust their tail for us. They've gotten me out of big situations. Look what Aaron Barrett did. He got me out of that inning. These guys compete. It's not like they want to go out there and lose this game. My heart's out to 'em. They're fighting and doing their job. It was just a tough loss."