BALTIMORE --
Staked to that early lead, Means put together his most effective performance yet. The rookie held Boston to one run over a career-high seven innings, allowing only a fifth-inning Eduardo Nunez sacrifice fly to muddy his line. Besides that, Means allowed three hits and struck out four, walking none. He shaved his ERA to 2.88 across five starts in the process.\n\n\"He's still developing, which is cool and impressive and what we're looking for from our young players,” Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said. “Not only \\[to\\] have results but to improve over the course of the year.”\n\nThat development has been plain to see for the 26-year-old Means, whose emergence stands out as the most pleasant surprise of the Orioles young season. It was particularly obvious Monday when Means, essentially a two-pitch pitcher so far this year, upped his slider usage four-fold to cool Boston’s red-hot lineup. Means threw 21 sliders -- more than twice as many as in any other start this season.\n\nBoston’s top five hitters finished 0-for-15 against the southpaw.
“That was an impressive performance,” Hyde said. “You’re seeing a four-pitch pitcher right now.”\n\nSaid Means: I’m going to need that as I go forward. The first month, the changeup kind of surprised everybody. As I move forward and establish myself, I’m going to need the breakers more.”\n\nIn doing so, Means became the second consecutive Orioles starter to complete seven frames -- something the club did just once over its first 33 contests.
Because the Orioles were blanked over the final four innings by