BALTIMORE — Even as the Orioles came back before falling behind again late to the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday, the focus will be on that fourth inning, when left-hander John Means was last on the mound before an unceremonious departure that will drive worry throughout Baltimore.
Means cruised through the fourth inning, needing just 12 pitches to retire the side in order. But midway through the home half of that inning, right-hander Joey Krehbiel popped up in the bullpen, despite Means sitting at 51 pitches.
And when the fifth inning opened, there Krehbiel was, replacing Means on the mound after Baltimore’s most reliable starter allowed two runs in his second start of the season. Means withdrew after he felt left forearm tightness, the team announced, a troublesome update for a team with little consistency and few places to turn for solid starting pitching.
