Henry Urrutia: "This is the best moment in all of my career"

Henry Urrutia tonight became the fifth player in Orioles history to produce a walk-off win with his first major league homer. Outfielder Merv Rettenmund was the first to do so in 1968, and the list also includes pitcher Jim Hardin in 1969, catcher Dave Criscione in 1977 and catcher Chris Hoiles in 1990.

With his homer to left on a 1-2 pitch leading off the ninth inning, Urrutia not only gave his club an important 5-4 win over the Mets, he created a moment that he will never forget.

"This is the best moment in all of my career," Urrutia said. "In 2013 (when called up), what was on my mind was to do a good job and have a good career with the Orioles. That was the most important thing for me. But today, this moment is amazing.

"Before my at-bat, I was thinking just make good contact. When I made good contact and was running to first base on my mind was 'I can't believe this. This is the dream. I can't believe this.'"

After the game, the feel-good story continued. Urrutia was able to get the ball from a fan, and that ball is headed to someone special.

"When the guy told me 'I have your baseball for you.' Wow, that is the best gift for me tonight. Now my son can say one day 'This is the first homer for my dad in the big leagues.'"

Urrutia said before he went to bat in the ninth, some of his teammates filled him with confidence.

"Manny, Jonsey and Jonathan told me 'You can do it. You can do it. Go ahead and make a good swing.' Wow, I'm really nervous, sorry guys," Urrutia said as he ended his thought. It was clearly an emotional interview for Urrutia after his game-winner.

When told he was one of five Orioles to hit a walk-off as their first big league homer, Urrutia said: "That makes this moment bigger for me. I lot of good players come here to this team and play with this organization. And in their whole career don't have a moment like this. So this moment for me is special and bigger."

Urrutia re-iterated that the support of manager Buck Showalter and his teammates has been big for him.

"That makes me strong," he said. "Because I know the fans and team are waiting for something good from me. When Manny said, 'You can do it, go ahead do it.' When they say something like that, I feel strong. When I go to home plate, I don't feel anything else other than the team trusts me."

Jonathan Schoop hit a big homer as well and he said he also got support from his teammates. Last night, Schoop made two errors and went 0-for-4. Tonight, he hit a game-tying two-run homer in the sixth inning.

"To be honest, I have great teammates and coaching staff. They talked to me and make me feel like that wasn't me. I said it yesterday that I have to focus and play better. J.J. (Hardy) and Jonesey told me everyone has a bad day, get it done tomorrow."

Schoop was asked about the Orioles producing their third walk-off homer in six games and Urrutia's special homer.

"I think it makes us feel like we are not giving in. We keep battling. We play to the final out. Really special for him. His first home run in the big leagues and it was a walk-off. That was amazing," Schoop said.

Starting pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez was also asked about Urrutia's big night.

"That was really cool. Especially for him, he is a really nice guy. Your first home run is a walk-off, that is huge. He did it in a classy way ... I guess the magic is back," Jimenez said.

This was the Orioles' sixth walk-off homer of the year and their third walk-off win via a home run in six games of this homestand. The last player to hit a walk-off homer for his first homer was Christian Bethancourt of Atlanta against Pittsburgh on June 6.