Orioles starting pitcher John Means (right) hugs catcher Pedro Severino after Means threw a no-hitter against the Mariners on May 5, 2021, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Orioles starting pitcher John Means (right) hugs catcher Pedro Severino after Means threw a no-hitter against the Mariners on May 5, 2021, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Mariners no-hit by Orioles’ Means

Seattle’s offensive woes catch up to it in a big way in a 6-0 loss to Baltimore to end its homestand.

  • By Ryan Divish The Seattle Times
  • Wednesday, May 5, 2021 5:15pm
  • SportsMariners

By Ryan Divish / The Seattle Times

SEATTLE — Given what has transpired in the first 31 days of the 2021 season, the stretches of weak contact and scoreless innings, the strikeouts upon strikeouts from the bottom of the batting order, the overall data that shows the Seattle Mariners to have the second-worst batting average (.207), on-base percentage (.287) and third-worst on-base plus slugging percentage (.656) in all of Major League Baseball coming into Wednesday afternoon’s homestand finale, well, suffering defeat in the most frustrating way possible — being held hitless — wasn’t so much a distinct possibility at some point, but an obvious inevitability.

For the sixth time since the franchise came into existence in 1977, the Mariners were on the receiving end of a no-hitter.

John Means, a 28-year-old lefty and the best pitcher on a young and rebuilding team, became the first Orioles starting pitcher to toss a complete-game no-hitter since Hall of Famer Jim Palmer no-hit the Oakland Athletics on Aug. 13, 1969, at the old Memorial Stadium in Baltimore.

It was the 10th no-hitter in Orioles franchise history. Baltimore did have four pitchers combine for a no-hitter on July 13, 1991, also vs. the A’s in Oakland.

The last time the Mariners were no-hit was on Aug. 3, 2019 in Houston when four pitchers combined for a no-hitter. It was the second time that season Seattle was no-hit by a combination of pitchers. The other came three weeks earlier on July 12 at Angels Stadium.

“Certainly not the way we wanted to end the homestand,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said. “And we didn’t hit a ton of balls hard, quite frankly. There just wasn’t much out there. It was a lot of soft pop ups and stuff in the air and that’s what Means does, he just got that ride on his fastball, and he gets you off balance.”

Means missed the holy grail of pitching — a perfect game — by just one sharp-breaking curveball in the dirt. On a 1-2 count, he appeared to have struck out Sam Haggerty swinging in the third inning. But the ball bounced between the legs of catcher Pedro Severino, who couldn’t collapse and block the ball quickly enough. It rolled to the backstop, allowing Haggerty to scamper to first base. He wasn’t on base long as he was thrown out at second on a stolen base attempt moments later.

But that one baserunner off of a strikeout and wild pitch disrupted perfection.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Means became the first pitcher to throw a no-hitter that had no walks, no hit batters and no errors but wasn’t considered a perfect game.

It was small, but costly blemish on an otherwise absolutely dominant performance. The lefty changed speeds, hit spots and had minimal hard contact. Seattle had two balls with exit velocities at 95 mph, which is considered a hard-hit ball. Means struck out a career-high 12 batters without issuing a walk over nine innings, also a career-high. Of his 113 pitches thrown, he had swings and misses on 26 of his 79 strikes.

But his most impressive statistic — besides not allowing a hit — was throwing first-pitch strikes to 26 of the 27 batters he faced.

“He was awesome today, there’s no question about it,” said Kyle Seager. “He was ahead of us all day. We were behind in pretty much every single count. He was spinning it. His fastball has got some good life. He was throwing changeups for strikes. Lots of swings and misses and just missing balls underneath everything.”

Means came into the ninth inning with 101 pitches thrown. He got Dylan Moore to pop out in foul territory, struck out Haggerty swinging ad got J.P. Crawford to lineout weakly to shortstop.

Teammates rushed the field to celebrate while the crowd of 6,742 applauded begrudgingly and then appreciatively at his performance.

As for the Mariners, a few players stood on the rail to watch the celebration. But most headed for the clubhouse to prepare for a long flight to Texas.

“He was in control all day and I don’t think we had any balls that were even close to being hits,” Seager said.

Unlike Phillip Humber, who tossed a perfect game against Seattle on April 21, 2012 for the White Sox — the last time the Mariners were no-hit at home — and was never heard from again, this wasn’t some one-off level performance for Means.

“This isn’t a fluke thing,” Seager said.

In seven starts this season, Means is 4-0 with 1.37 ERA. In 46 innings, he’s struck out 50 batters and walked 10 while holding opponents to a .135 batting average.

“We ran up against a really hot pitcher,” Servais said. “Means is probably, numbers-wise, ERA-wise, one of the top pitchers in our league and we saw it today. He absolutely dominated the zone.”

And while baseball’s overall numbers continue to trend downward to levels not seen in the modern era, this Mariners’ offense has been a frustrating disappointment on almost every level.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Everett’s Alana Washington poses for a photo at Everett High School on March 24, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
The Herald’s 2023-24 Girls Basketball Player of the Year: Alana Washington

The Everett senior upped her game in the postseason to help the Seagulls overcome injuries and claim their first state trophy in 41 years.

Left to right, Arlington’s Samara Morrow, Kamiak’s Bella Hasan, Everett’s Alana Washington, Lake Steven’s Nisa Ellis, Lynnwood’s Aniya Hooker, and Meadowdale’s Gia Powell, pose for a photo at Everett High School on March 24, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
The Herald’s 2023-24 All-Area girls basketball teams

A look at the top prep girls basketball players in the area from the 2023-24 season.

Silvertips players celebrate during a game between the Everett Silvertips and Tri-City Americans at the Angel of the Winds Arena on Sunday, Jan. 21, 2024. The Silvertips won, 5-3. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Silvertips land No. 1 pick, chance to draft generational talent

Landon DuPont is the consensus top pick in next WHL prospects draft. Everett chief operating officer Zoran Rajcic said the team intends to select him.

Dennis Williams, head coach and GM of the Everett Silvertips, shakes hands with an assistant coach at the end of a season opening victory over the Vancouver Giants on Saturday, Sep. 24, 2022, at Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Coach, GM Williams leaving Silvertips for Bowling Green State

After seven successful season leading Everett, Dennis Williams is heading back to his alma mater. He’ll stay with the Tips through the WHL playoffs.

Mountlake Terrace’s Jaxon Dubiel talks with head coach Nalin Sood during the 3A boys state basketball game against Todd Beamer on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024 in Tacoma, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘It was just time’: Mountlake Terrace basketball coach Sood steps down

Nalin Sood guided his alma mater to 381 wins and 15 state berths in 24 seasons as head coach. He spent over four decades with the program.

Stanwood High School student athletes during their signing day ceremony. (Courtesy of Stanwood High School)
Local class of 2024 athletes who have signed to play in college

A running list of 2024 high school athletes who are set to compete at the next level.

X
Prep roundup for Tuesday, March 26

Prep roundup for Tuesday, March 26: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

Silvertips’ Kaden Hammell (47) enters the rink during a game between the Everett Silvertips and the Tri-City Americans at the Angel of the Winds Arena on Sunday, March 24, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Patterson: Overachieving Silvertips had season worth celebrating

In a season when some thought the team’s playoff streak could end, Everett put together one of its greatest campaigns.

Washington State athletic director Pat Chun, center, watches players on the first day of NCAA college football practice, Friday, Aug. 6, 2021, in Pullman, Wash. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Washington hires AD Chun away from rival Washington State

UW quickly targeted its in-state rival’s athletic director after Troy Dannen’s sudden departure.

Seattle Mariners' Mitch Haniger hits a single against the San Diego Padres during the fourth inning of a spring training baseball game Monday, March 11, 2024, in Peoria, Ariz. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Why the Mariners could win the AL West, and what could hold them back

Starting pitching, a renovated offense and regression in the AL West are in Seattle’s favor, but injury issues, bullpen concerns and the Houston Astros could be a problem.

X
Vote for The Herald’s Prep Athlete of the Week for March 18-24

The Athlete of the Week nominees for March 18-24. Voting closes at… Continue reading

X
Prep roundup for Wednesday, March 27

Prep roundup for Wednesday, March 27: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.