John Means (1-0) made his 2024 debut on Saturday and orchestrated the Baltimore Orioles 2-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds. In his return from Tommy John surgery, Means threw 85 pitches, 58 for strikes over 7.0 scoreless innings and allowed 3 hits while striking out 8 Reds batters. He allowed two singles and a double nad set the side down in order four of the seven innings he pitched.
Cincinnati scored on the Baltimore bullpen. Cionel Perez (1.0 IP, H) pitched the eighth and turned it over to Craig Kimbrel who allowed 1 run on 2 hits with a walk and 1 strike out in 0.1 inning. Yennier Cano walked 1 and struck out 1 on 0.2 inning to earn the save and preserve the win for Means.
Jorge Mateo (1 for 4, HR, R, RBI) hit his second homerun in three days in the fourth inning. He also made a head’s up play in the sixth inning to throw Jonathan India out at second base after Jordan Westburg‘s throw from third skipped past Mountcastle. Mateo backed up the play perfectly.
Adley Rutschman (3 for 4, HR, R, RBI) hit his fifth homerun of the season in the fifth inning.
Cedric Mullins went 1 for 4 with a double while Gunnar Henderson went 1 for 3 with a walk and Ryan Mountcastle went 1 for 4.
Not much offense was required with the efficient way that Means was pitching. Notable fact: tommorow (5/5) marks the three year anniversary of Means no-hitter in Seattle.
2024 Record: 22-11
Next Game: Sun. 5/5 @ 4:10 pm vs. Reds in Cincinnati