Orioles' winning streak ends after Means exits (updated)

The careful handling of Orioles left-hander John Means couldn't prevent him from leaving today's game after facing only five batters.

Calling on the bullpen early wasn't going to improve the Orioles' chances of building on their winning streak and maintaining a more positive frame of mind.

The momentum folded with an ace no longer showing.

Means might be headed to the injured list with left shoulder fatigue, confirmation of the injury coming as the Indians were marching toward a 10-4 victory before an announced crowd of 9,969 at Camden Yards.

Adam Plutko relieved Means and surrendered five runs in the third inning, the last three on Yu Chang's homer that prompted another pitching change, and the Orioles' streak ended at three games. They're 20-38 overall and 9-20 at home.

"We just don't know anything until we get tested tomorrow," said manager Brandon Hyde. "So right now he's going to go in for an MRI and we'll get the results and we'll know more tomorrow."

"I didn't feel it at all in the bullpen," Means said. "This is something I've kind of been battling for the last few weeks, not really during the games, but after games. But, yeah, I felt it more so in warmups when I was out there. The last couple of pitches when I really started to let it eat, I felt it kind of yank and then every pitch after that I just kind of felt it at the end of extension.

"I've been trying to attack it this year. It's not major, it's nothing serious. It's just more annoying than anything. So I'm going to try to just flush it out right now and try to attack maybe some weak areas that are there. But we have a good training staff, so they're going to be on top of it."

Cedric Mullins led off the third inning with his seventh home run, a 440-foot drive to center field off Indians starter Aaron Civale, and No. 8 arrived when he reached the flag court in the fifth. Freddy Galvis had a run-scoring single in the first after singles by Mullins and Trey Mancini.

This is the second multi-homer game for Mullins in 2021. He also singled in the seventh and ninth innings for his second five-hit game, the other on April 4 in Boston. Tommy Davis was the last Oriole with two five-hit games in the same season, back in 1974. Luis Aparicio holds the club record with three in 1966, according to STATS.

"Incredible game by him today," Hyde said. "Just did everything."

Ryan Mountcastle launched a solo shot in the sixth inning to reduce the lead to 9-4, extending his own streak to a career-long three straight games. He's homered in four of his last five games and five of 11. Today's ball traveled 447 feet with a 111 mph exit velocity, per Statcast.

Means allowed bases-empty home runs to Cesar Hernandez and Harold Ramirez in the top of the first and departed after his 29th pitch, a single by Eddie Rosario. Pitching coach Chris Holt motioned for Hyde and head athletic trainer Brian Ebel, Means walked off the field and the team passed along the update.

"When they called me and Brian out there, your heart stops for a second," Hyde said. "You never want to see a player get hurt, obviously, and I felt bad for John. I thought for a couple pitches before that there was a little lack of finish on his pitches. His velo was good, but felt bad for him."

Hyde didn't send Holt to the mound because he sensed that Means was dealing with a health issue.

"I just wanted Chris to go out there just to kind of give him a breather because it was kind of a long first. I just wanted to give him a blow right there," Hyde said.

Four of the five runs off Plutko were unearned after Stevie Wilkerson's fielding error with one out. Consecutive singles by José Ramírez, Harold Ramirez and Rosario gave Cleveland a 4-1 lead, Owen Miller struck out and Chang hit his first home run of the season and second of his career.

Mullins offered a brief pursuit of the ball as Plutko lowered his head.

Hopes for another music-blaring celebration in the home clubhouse also were lowered after Means walked to the trainers' room.

Means was working on extended rest, six days this afternoon, for the third time since throwing a career-high 113 pitches in his May 5 no-hitter in Seattle. His velocity was good, the fastball clocked at 95 mph on a strikeout of José Ramírez. But the shoulder has been problematic in the past.

The Orioles placed Means on the injured list in June 2019 with a shoulder strain and he returned a month later with a left biceps strain. He didn't break camp in 2020, forfeiting his opportunity to be the opening day starter, due to shoulder fatigue.

Interviewed in Seattle two years ago after going on the IL for the first time, Means said, "I had it in college. It was a strained deltoid. It's strictly muscle. It's nothing serious. It's one of those things that gets tight and is uncomfortable and doesn't feel good to throw, but once it loosens up it's fine."

The rotation won't be fine if Means is lost for an extended period. He's the ace, the leader, with numbers that put him in the company of the top pitchers in the majors.

The Orioles initially could carry an extra reliever if Means is on the IL, because they're off Monday and Thursday. They don't play a fifth consecutive game until June 15.

Going on the IL would be a logical move, and fresh relievers are needed now, but the Orioles are waiting for the MRI results.

Asked if he anticipates missing starts, Means replied, "I don't know. Honestly, it's the same thing that I've had pretty much every year I've been up. I think it's deltoid maybe. But, yeah, it's just an extension. That's all it is."

Travis Lakins Sr. was charged with an unearned run, on Pedro Severino's fifth passed ball of the season, in two innings. Mullins raced into left-center field in the fourth and made a diving catch to rob Hernández.

He had quite a day.

"Just always trying to contribute toward the dub," Mullins said.

César Valdez and Dillon Tate each allowed a run and each retired the side in order in his other inning.

The Orioles loaded the bases with no outs in the eighth and didn't score. Mountcastle was hit by a Blake Parker changeup.

Mountcastle is fine. Means is another story.

"It was tough," Mullins said. "It still looked like his velocity was there. It was a worrisome situation. I hope he's OK. I haven't heard any news on anything, so just hoping for the best."

"These things happen," Hyde said. "We've been fairly fortunate. These things do happen and it is a part of the game. Give our four guys who came in after him a lot of credit. Everybody went two, two-plus innings, trying to keep us there. Got kind of put in a tough spot. All four of these guys I extended further than they've been throwing, but it's the big leagues and these things happen."

Said Means: "It's all on extension, that's when I feel it. Because I'm such a big changeup guy, that's what you do on changeups is get a lot of extension. Especially on that pitch, I just felt like I couldn't get there. I was cutting it. It just wasn't comfortable at all. But yeah, it's very similar. It's pretty much the same thing that I've had the last couple years."