'We’re never out of it': McKenna unlikely walk-off hero for O's in extras

BALTIMORE -- Austin Hays started to stir in the Orioles’ dugout, grabbing his batting equipment and preparing for what could be a critical plate appearance in the 10th inning. He was two batters away from potentially getting into the box in a tie game.

As Hays headed for the steps, he was stopped and called over by Anthony Santander, who had something to say -- in fact, he was calling a bit of an improbable shot. He just had a feeling Ryan McKenna, who was stepping up with a runner on second and one out, was about to end the contest.

“I told Hays, ‘Come here. Don’t get ready. He’s an animal off the bench,’” Santander recalled.

Sure enough, that “animal” came through moments later.

McKenna delivered his first big league walk-off knock, swatting a two-run homer off Seattle right-hander Justin Topa to lift Baltimore to a 6-4 victory at Camden Yards on Saturday afternoon. The Statcast-projected 393-foot blast -- which McKenna powered the opposite way to right-center field -- ended a game in which the Orioles had previously blown three leads.

After coming through with the most memorable hit of his three-year MLB career, McKenna rounded the bases, tossed his helmet aside as he neared home, flexed his arms and received a large splash of Gatorade from the cooler carried by teammate Ryan O’Hearn.

“It’s awesome. It’s something you try to visualize,” McKenna said. “You try to be prepared for that moment. Winning the game like that is always sweet.”

How did the visualization compare to the actual moment in which McKenna was at the center of the team dancing and celebrating around home plate?

“Pretty sweet. Pretty awesome. Real definitely trumps [it],” McKenna said. “It was exciting, and [we're] glad to get the win.”

McKenna hadn’t come into the game until the ninth, entering as a defensive replacement in right field for Santander (who had a season-high four hits, including one of Baltimore’s three homers). McKenna was stationed there when a game-tying home run by Seattle’s Mike Ford sailed into the seats in right-center field, the result of a rare blown save by closer Félix Bautista.

After the game went to extras knotted at 4, the Orioles needed a hero to prevail -- and they were in a good spot to get one after Mike Baumann worked a 1-2-3 10th to strand the Mariners’ automatic runner at second and keep the game tied. McKenna may not have been the most obvious choice to rise to the occasion.

Known more for his glove than his bat -- hence, why he typically enters games in the late innings, quite frequently without even getting a plate appearance -- McKenna has made only 18 starts among his 58 games played this year. Since May 21, the 26-year-old had only three hits over his previous 28 plate appearances, and they had all been singles.

But McKenna has brought plenty of value to Baltimore’s roster, especially because of the high energy he spreads throughout the team.

“He does a lot of stuff behind the scenes, like in the dugout as far as picking up guys and stuff over the course of the game,” said right-hander Dean Kremer, who allowed three runs (via a trio of solo homers) over a season-high seven innings. “So he’s a big part of this team.”

That’s what makes it all the more rewarding to see McKenna deliver in a big moment.

“Just the kind of person he is is phenomenal, and he’s a really good athlete -- great athlete -- that has helped us the last couple years in a lot of ways,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “So fun to watch him get this moment today, and he’s earned it.”

Thanks to McKenna, the Orioles (46-29) improved to an MLB-best 20-9 in games following a loss in 2023. They had lost five of their previous eight games, including Friday night’s opener vs. the Mariners -- a 13-1 defeat that marked Baltimore’s most lopsided loss of the season.

However, that was in the past, as were Saturday’s three blown leads, including Bautista’s rare blemish. That’s the constant mindset of the 2023 Orioles.

“That’s just our team. We’re never out of it,” McKenna said. “Our mentality’s always, 'We’re going to win and it’s not over until the last pitch.'”

Baltimore is not only a resilient group, but a tight-knit one. The club has confidence in any one of its members to lead it to victory.

It’s why Santander called his shot with McKenna, which he also couldn’t have been more pleased to see come true.

“I was so happy for him. He’s been ready all game,” Santander said. “When his opportunity comes, he’s ready. I’m so happy he hit that homer for us right there.”