Orioles left-hander John Means retired the Brewers in order tonight on 12 pitches in the first inning, nine in the third and 12 in the fourth. They scored twice in the second on 18 pitches, but he wasn’t laboring. The total body of work was solid.

Why it lasted only through the fourth was a curiosity, to say the least.

Joey Krehbiel began to warm in the bullpen and entered the game in the top of the fifth. Dillon Tate worked the sixth. Other relievers would be following him, as manager Brandon Hyde needed to cover for Means’ unexpected departure.

The club announced that Means had left forearm tightness, with more details to come, including whether this is an injured list situation. Meanwhile, the Orioles rallied to tie the game in the eighth, but a run-scoring triple by Kolton Wong and RBI double by Rowdy Tellez in the ninth off Jorge López gave Milwaukee a 4-2 win and the series.

Means is expected to undergo an MRI, and the club hopes to have more information Friday.

Allowed to throw 84 pitches over four innings on opening day, Orioles left-hander John Means can be pushed a bit more tonight in his start against the Brewers.

Wade into the medium level of the pool before submerging in the deep end.

“It depends on how efficient he is, traffic, stressful innings,” said manager Brandon Hyde. “I’m hoping to get him up to five or six innings and in the 85-pitch range or maybe a little higher. Kind of see how the game goes.”

The Dodgers pulled Clayton Kershaw today after seven perfect innings, another product of a short spring training. Hyde was asked what he’d do tonight if Means was perfect through the seventh at 80 pitches.

No mention of Kershaw. Just a “what if.”

It would have been a cool story to watch unfold for the two brothers. When the schedule was released for the 2022 season, both Ramón Urías of the Orioles and his younger brother, Luis, of the Brewers noted the April dates on the calendar. Ramón’s Orioles would host Luis and the Brewers, and their family would made the trek from Mexico to see it.

But in his first spring training game, Luis, 24, suffered a quad injury.

“We felt bad about it. We were waiting for this time. My family would be here for sure if if we both were playing,” said Ramón, the older brother by three years, today in the O’s clubhouse.

Just like his older bro, Luis also plays second, shortstop and third base. He moved around the infield for the 2021 division-winning Brewers, slashing .249/.345/.445 with a .789 OPS, 23 homers and 75 RBIs.

“When we were growing up together, we talked a lot of baseball,” Ramón said. “We prepared together this offseason in Phoenix. I am proud of him, he’s a good player. We are very close.”

Anthony Bemboom is catching tonight as the Orioles close out their series against the Brewers.

Ramón Urías is at third base and Jorge Mateo is the shortstop.

Rougned Odor is starting at second base.

Trey Mancini, the designated hitter and batting fourth, has a hit in four of the first five games.

John Means makes his second start after allowing one run and six hits in four innings against the Rays.

Cedric Mullins talked in spring training about trying to concentrate on the middle of the field, an approach that makes him a much larger threat at the plate.

He’s still trying, and the improvements are loud.

The exhibition numbers illustrated his struggles: five hits in 30 at-bats with 11 strikeouts.

Mullins began last night’s game with only three hits in 16 at-bats, and his nine strikeouts led the American League. But he lined a two-run single into center field in the Orioles’ home opener, with an exit velocity of 109 mph, that provided all of the scoring, and also sent a 99 mph live drive to the mound that reliever Aaron Ashby snared for the out.

After flying to left field in his first at-bat last night, Mullins launched a curveball from Eric Lauer 413 feet to right-center field for his first career grand slam. Exit velo was 101.8 mph.