Baltimore Orioles pitcher John Means threw MLB's third no-hitter of the 2021 season on Tuesday as the Seattle Mariners failed to get a hit off him. Sam Haggerty was the only Mariner who reached base after striking out on a wild pitch.
This is the first Orioles' no-hitter in nearly 30 years. In June 1991, Bob Milacki, Mike Flanagan, Mark Williamson and Gregg Olson threw a combined no-hitter against the Oakland A's. Means the first Orioles pitcher to throw a complete game no-hitter in more than half a century. In August 1969, Jim Palmer no-hit the Oakland A's.
As mentioned earlier, Means has the third no-hitter of the 2021 season. In April, Joe Musgrove of the San Diego Padres and Carlos Rodon of the Chicago White Sox spun no-hitters. Some would argue there have been four no-hitters in 2021 as Arizona Diamondbacks ace Madison Bumgarner didn't allow a hit against the Atlanta Braves late last month in the second game of a doubleheader. However, doubleheaders are only 7 innings but MLB does not recognize no hitters fewer than 9 innings.
But there is no question as to Means' achievement. Means, 28, improves to a 4-0 record with a 1.37 ERA in seven starts this season. Not bad considering the Kansas born southpaw was an 11th round draft pick by the Orioles in 2014. In 2019, Means was runner up in AL Rookie of the Year balloting and an All-Star. After a so-so sophomore campaign in 2020, it appears Means will have his way to have a breakthrough season in 2021.
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