Means exits early, Brewers pull it out late in beating Orioles

Trying to catch a break or at least a few clutch hits, the Orioles came up with sort of a partial loaf tonight. They finally scored some runners in scoring position to tie the game 2-2. But when Milwaukee pushed across two runs in the top of the ninth versus righty Jorge López, they beat the Orioles 4-2 at Camden Yards.

But it was a night where the Orioles’ top starting pitcher, lefty John Means, exited the game early due to injury.

Means, who missed time last year with a shoulder issue, retired seven straight batters through the top of the fourth tonight and was trailing Milwaukee 2-0. But he was settling into a good groove, retiring the Brewers in order on nine pitches in the third and 12 pitches in the fourth.

And then he was suddenly out of the game due to left forearm tightness.

When right-hander Joey Krehbiel started warming up in the home fourth, it was clear something was up. Means was at 51 pitches through four and he was rolling. But he would also soon be out of the game.

Krehbiel pitched a scoreless fifth on just 10 pitches to keep the solid mound night going for the Orioles, just not with their No. 1 starter.

So to say the least, the news was disheartening for an O’s team that could use some better injury breaks. Spring training started with top prospect Adley Rutschman suffering a strained bicep and now Means leaves his start early. Top prospects Yusniel Diaz and Kyle Stowers have also had injury issues on the farm, although Stowers returned to the lineup tonight for Triple-A Norfolk. Double-A Bowie outfielder Hudson Haskin left tonight's game early after being hit by a pitch.

Means went four innings, allowing two hits and two runs with one walk and two strikeouts. His ERA for the year is 3.38, allowing three runs over eight innings versus the Rays and Brewers. Means went 6-9 with a 3.62 ERA last season.

His fastball velocity averaged 92.8 mph last season and was at 91.8 mph, touching 94, in his opening day start against the Rays. He averaged 91.6 mph tonight, topping out at 92.6 per Statcast.

The O’s rotation is already uncertain in the fifth starter spot and if Means has to miss any time, we’ll see if someone goes from the bullpen to a starting role or if the O’s dip into Triple-A, where they now have both Grayson Rodriguez and Kyle Bradish in the rotation.

Milwaukee took the lead against him with a two-run second that featured a two-out Rowdy Tellez RBI double to center and a groundball single to center by Mike Brosseau. The Brewers won the last two games to take this series and improve to 3-3 while the Orioles are 1-5.

The Orioles produced just three hits and no runs off 2021 Cy Young Winner Corbin Burnes over seven innings. But then they tied the game in the eighth versus ace bullpen arm Devin Williams. Ryan Mountcastle’s RBI single and Trey Mancini’s sac fly tied it up 2-2. But Milwaukee got two in the ninth to pull out the win on RBI doubles by Kolten Wong and Tellez.

The Orioles are 1-5 and have played five games decided by two runs or less against two playoff teams in the Rays and Brewers. But they still have just the one win to show for that with the Yankees coming to town on Friday night.