John Means sizes up strong outing (O's lose to Phils)

It has been a bit of a rarity for the Orioles this spring - a solid starting pitching performance. But they got one today from the left-hander that is expected to be their opening day starter.

John Means, making his third spring start, allowed just one run in four innings as the Orioles hosted the Philadelphia Phillies at Ed Smith Stadium.

Means pitched a 1-2-3 first inning, getting a called strikeout and two flyball outs to start his day. He entered this outing having allowed eight hits and five runs over 3 2/3 innings.

The Phillies took a 1-0 lead against him in the second on C.J. Chatham's RBI double. Alec Bohm led off the inning and drew a walk. Chatham batted next and his double to left scored the game's first run. But Means held it right there, getting the next three hitters out, the last two on strikeouts.

And then he pitched a 1-2-3 top of the third, getting Ronald Torreyes to pop out and Roman Quinn to ground out before he fanned Scott Kingery swinging.

Means concluded his day by becoming the first O's starter to get into the fourth inning and he completed it, putting up another zero. Means allowed a Bohm double with one out and then got two groundouts to strand him.

"Probably the best I've felt," Means said via a Zoom interview after an outing of around 60 pitches. "I thought the fastball was definitely there. Fastball was really crisp today. But there is still some work to be done. I've got to work on that slider a little bit. Thought I threw some pretty good changeups, some decent curveballs. But, yeah, the fastball is definitely there.

"I was just pleased to get a strikeout (after none in two games). I was happy to get that one out of the way, first batter. But, yeah, for me, it's nice to get some swings and misses and you know the fastball has been pretty good all spring; it's just the other stuff that is coming along. I think I'm on the right path and definitely happy to have a decent outing."

So Means goes four innings, allowing two hits and one run with one walk and four strikeouts. His ERA dropped from 12.29 to 7.04.

Is he close to ready to start the regular season?

"My body is feeling great," he said. "I'm recovering well. Arm feels good. Body-wise, I'm there. It's just, you know, fine-tuning some of these off-speed pitches and get in a rhythm. And, you know, feeling that adrenaline rush a few more times. But, yeah, I feel really good body-wise."

It should come as no surprise to anyone that if Means pitches on the fifth day from here on out, he is lined up to start the season opener on April 1 at Boston.

Today was just the fourth time in 12 games that an O's starter allowed one or zero runs.

"You know, I don't take a whole lot of weight in spring training," Means said. "My spring training numbers have always been pretty bad. But, you know, guys are getting their work in. Guys are really competing and trying to find their rhythm. But, yeah, towards the end, toward the second half of spring training, you should see some better outings once guys start to figure out some stuff. And you want some momentum going into the season."

Means was asked about today's news that fans will be allowed in the stands when the season starts at Camden Yards.

"It will feel like a real season, a real baseball game, a real major league environment," he said. "Couldn't be happier. Last year, it was tough to create that energy. But this year, it will be easy and there's no excuses."

Anthony Santander drew another walk today in the first inning. At that point, his on-base percentage was .600 after his team-leading seventh walk of the spring.

Down 1-0, the Orioles took the lead in the last of the third. Pat Valaika singled and went to third on a Yolmer Sánchez single. Sánchez advanced to second on the play. Ryan McKenna's sac fly tied the game at 1-1 and advanced both runners. Austin Hays then singled in Sánchez for a 2-1 lead. Hays is now batting .333.

Right-hander César Valdez pitched out of a jam to put up a zero in the top of the fifth. But Philadelphia took a 4-2 lead in the sixth when Nick Maton hit a three-run homer off Paul Fry for a 4-2 lead.

This entry will be updated.

Harvey injured, O's lose: O's right-hander Hunter Harvey threw one pitch today and exited the game in the top of the eighth. The O's announced that Harvey suffered a left oblique injury and we'll await further word from manager Brandon Hyde.

The Phillies added two runs in the seventh and beat the Orioles 6-2. Throwing errors by Valaika and Trey Mancini scored one of those runs. Fry went 1 2/3 innings, allowing four hits and five runs (four earned) and now has a spring ERA of 24.55. He has pitched three times allowing three, three and five runs.

Knuckleballer Mickey Jannis replaced Harvey and pitched a scoreless eighth. He has allowed one run in three innings. Jay Flaa kept Philly off the board in the ninth.

The Orioles were held to four hits, all singles. They are now 3-8-1 and play in Dunedin on Saturday afternoon against Toronto with Wade LeBlanc scheduled to start.