Orioles’ Means falls one pitch from perfection
John Means threw the major leagues’ third no-hitter this season and came within a wild pitch on a third strike of a perfect game, pitching the Baltimore Orioles over the Mariners 6-0 Wednesday in Seattle.
Means (4-0) struck out 12 and walked none. Seattle’s runner was Sam Haggerty after he struck out swinging on a curveball in the dirt on a 1-2 count with one outs in the third inning that bounced away from catcher Pedro Severino.
Haggerty wasn’t on base long, getting thrown out attempting to steal second.
Means threw 79 strikes among 113 pitches, including first-pitch strikes to 26 of 27 batters. When Seattle did make contact against the 28-year-old left-hander, it was weak and there were no threats to fall in for a hit.
“I can’t put it into words right now. It’s unbelievable,” Means said after his first complete game in 44 career big league starts. “I felt OK all game. I didn’t really have the changeup till the end, but I’m glad I got it going.”
Means lowered his ERA to 1.37 and became the first individual Orioles pitcher to toss a no-hitter since Jim Palmer in 1969. It was the 10th no-hitter in franchise history — six in Baltimore after four as the St. Louis Browns.
In a season in which batters are on track to hit a record-low .232, Means joined a no-hit club that includes gems by San Diego right-hander Joe Musgrove at Texas on April 9 and by Chicago White Sox lefthander Carlos Rodón against Cleveland on April 14.
Reds’ Votto breaks thumb
Cincinnati’s Joey Votto fractured thumb during a 10-inning, 1-0 win over the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday.
Votto was hit by Dallas Keuchel’s pitch in the fourth inning. Votto stayed in the game, but in the sixth was replaced at first base by Kyle Farmer.
Votto is not expected to need surgery but could miss up to a month. Farmer is among the options at first.
N.Y. teams lift capacity limits for vaccinated fans
The Yankees and Mets can increase capacity from 20% to 100% at their ballparks for home games starting May 19 — as along as fans are vaccinated against COVID-19.
And both teams will be giving away free tickets along with vaccinations.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo made the announcement at a news conference on with Yankees president Randy Levine and Mets president Sandy Alderson.
“Theoretically if you had 100% vaccinated, you could fill the entire stadium with 100% vaccinated,” Cuomo said. “Unvaccinated, it is still the 6-foot social distancing.”
The Johnson & Johnson one-shot vaccination will be offered at the ballparks, and a person receiving a vaccination can get a free game ticket.
Shufflin’ off to Buffalo
The Toronto Blue Jays are returning to their home away from home, Buffalo, N.Y., starting in June. And this time, they’ll have a limited number of fans in attendance.
Forced from Canada by that government’s coronavirus travel restrictions, the Blue Jays posted a note on their Twitter account on Wednesday saying: “Buffalo, we’re BACK! We’ll see you June 1st.”
Toronto played its first two homestands at its spring training ballpark in Dunedin, Fla., and will play its third there from May 14-24, but did not want to remain in Florida for the hotter, humid part of the year.
Ray Miller dies at 76
Ray Miller, the former Twins and Orioles manager who spent 42 years in professional baseball and served as the pitching coach for three Cy Young award winners, has died. He was 76. The Twins said Miller died Tuesday. No cause was announced.