Indians cruise to 10-4 win; O's ace Means leaves with injury

BALTIMORE (AP) — Cesar Hernandez and Harold Ramirez homered off Baltimore ace John Means, who exited in the first inning with shoulder fatigue Saturday as the Cleveland Indians beat the Orioles 10-4.

Cedric Mullins homered twice as part of his second career five-hit outing for Baltimore, which saw its three-game winning streak end.

Yu Chang also homered to help Aaron Civale (8-2) tie for the major league lead in victories. Cleveland has won three of its last four.

Means (4-2), who pitched a no-hitter at Seattle on May 5, faced only five batters. The left-hander surrendered a leadoff homer to Hernandez and a solo drive to Ramirez with two outs.

After Eddie Rosario followed with a single, pitching coach Chris Holt went to the mound, manager Brandon Hyde and head athletic trainer Brian Ebel soon followed, and Means exited the game.

Means said he had similar experiences earlier in his major league career, but had avoided it until after games this season. He felt it when he was warming up Saturday, and later when he was extending while releasing his pitches in the first inning.

“It’s not major,” Means said. “It’s nothing serious. It’s more annoying than anything. I’m going to try and flush it out right now and try to attack some weak areas that are there.”

Means had gone at least five innings in all but one of 11 starts this season. His 2.05 ERA at the start of the day (which rose to 2.28) ranked second in the AL, while his .173 opponents’ batting average was third in the league.

It is uncertain whether Means will require a stint on the injured list.

“I don’t think we know right now,” Hyde said. “He’s going to get an MRI tomorrow and we’ll know more after getting some tests done.”

Civale, who has gone at least five innings...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Indians-cruise-to-10-4-win-O-s-ace-Means-leaves-16227771.php