For the first time since 1991, the Baltimore Orioles are on the right side of a no-hitter, as John Means continues to solidify himself as a true MLB Ace.
Means faced the minimum in Seattle on Wednesday afternoon, as the only baserunner came via a dropped third strike. While we can be disappointed that he lost his perfect game in such an odd way, Birdland will instead focus on the positive, as Means became the first Orioles pitcher to throw a complete-game no-no since Jim Palmer in 1969.
That’s right, it’s been FIFTY-TWO YEARS since an O’s hurler tossed a no-hitter on his own. The 1991 no-hitter was of the combined variety (Bob Milacki, Mike Flanagan, Mark Williamson, & Gregg Olson). Mike Mussina flirted with several during his O’s years, but was never able to complete the feat. Per ESPN Stats & Info, it snaps the longest active streak without an individual no-no among current MLB franchises.
Means worked ahead all day, throwing first-pitch strikes to the first 17 Mariners he faced and 26 of 27 overall. He struck out 12 on 113 pitches, and has now allowed two or fewer in ten of 11 starts.
The last no-hitter the O’s were a part of was also in Seattle, when Hisashi Iwakuma held the Birds without a hit on August 12, 2015.
For Means, it’s the latest in the storybook tale he is weaving. This is a guy who made a LinkedIn profile three years ago, he was so close to quitting the game. Now he’s made an All-Star team and pitched a no-hitter.
Congrats, John!
