It took a series of events for Ryan McKenna to be standing in the batter’s box at Camden Yards in the bottom of Saturday’s 10th inning, many of which did not go the Orioles’ way.

But the ends sometimes justify the means, with McKenna’s two-run walk-off homer giving Baltimore a 6-4 victory over the Seattle Mariners.

McKenna had entered the game in the top of the ninth as a defensive replacement in right field for Anthony Santander, who was originally set to be the Orioles’ designated hitter in Cedric Mullins’ first game off the injured list. But with rain passing through Baltimore before the game, manager Brandon Hyde tweaked his defensive positioning. Mullins went to DH, Aaron Hicks slid from right to center, and Santander went out to right.

Both Hicks and Santander (4-for-4 with two RBIs) homered in a back-and-forth game, with Seattle’s four runs each coming on a solo shot, the last being Mike Ford’s second of the afternoon with two outs off Orioles closer Félix Bautista. It was the third homer Bautista has allowed this season and just the 10th he’s surrendered in more than 100 major league innings.

In a scoreless bottom of the ninth, pinch-runner Jorge Mateo was doubled off first base on a popup behind home plate while attempting to steal second. After Mike Baumann stranded the Mariners’ automatic runner at second in the top of the 10th with a pair of strikeouts, McKenna brought home Mullins with a drive to deep right-center.

Dean Kremer delivered his best start of the season for the Orioles, allowing three runs on five hits in seven innings while striking out five and walking one. He’s allowed three runs or fewer in nine of his past 10 starts, lowering his ERA to 4.50.

This article will be updated.

Mariners at Orioles

Sunday, 1:35 p.m.

TV: MASN

Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM

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