The Baltimore Orioles saw a 106-series streak without a sweep end Wednesday, leaving the loss with concerns about starting pitcher John Means.
The St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Orioles 5-4 at Busch Stadium. The win clinched a three-game sweep for St. Louis after 6-3 and 3-1 wins over Baltimore on Monday and Tuesday. The sweep marked the first of the season for a struggling Cardinals team that improved to 23-26 with the win.
It also ended a remarkable streak by the Orioles of not being swept in 106 consecutive regular-season series, a streak dating back to May 13-15, 2022, when they were swept by the Detroit Tigers. The 106 series sweepless streak is the longest in AL history and is tied for second longest in MLB history with the New York Giants from 1903-1905.
By beating the Orioles, the Cardinals protected the franchise’s own MLB record. St. Louis went 125 consecutive regular season series without being swept from 1942 to 1944. Those Cardinals won World Series titles in 1942 and 1944.
Baltimore fell to 29-18 with the loss, 2.5 games behind the first-place New York Yankees in the AL East. Their more immediate concern is the health of Resources.
Means to undergo testing after elbow pain
Means only lasted three innings and left the game with elbow problems. He experienced a noticeable drop in velocity and issued his first two walks of the season despite the shortened outing. Manager Brandon Hyde told reporters after the game that Means would be tested to determine the severity of a possible injury.
“That was disappointing,” Hyde said, according to the Baltimore Sun. “I kind of saw that something was wrong and tried to work through it. But he did feel some pain in his elbow, and we hope for the best.”
Means allowed just one hit and no runs in his outing. He did not return for the fourth inning due to a rain delay. Hyde said the delay had no bearing on the decision; he pulled it anyway. Means had gone to the clubhouse with pitching coach Drew French prior to the delay.
The Sun’s Matt Weyrich noted that Means’ velocity dropped on all of his throws Wednesday.
John Means’ velocity was down across the board tonight through his first three innings. The MASN broadcast showed the left-hander shaking his arm and retreating to the clubhouse with pitching coach Drew French prior to the stoppage. Albert Suárez was also in the bullpen. pic.twitter.com/q8weODQ2Er
— Matt Weyrich (@ByMattWeyrich) May 22, 2024
The 31-year-old Means was an All-Star for the Orioles in 2019. He underwent Tommy John surgery in 2022 and has pitched just eight games since. He returned late in the 2023 season to pitch four games. He was removed from the team’s playoff roster due to elbow soreness and did not make his first start this season until May 4.
Since his return, he has gotten off to a sensational start for the World Series hopeful Orioles. In four starts this season, including Wednesday’s, Means has a 2.61 ERA and 0.87 WHIP with 16 strikeouts and two walks. Now he and the Orioles are waiting for the results of his tests.
