Shorebirds' Means Named SAL Pitcher of the Week

[DrShorebird]

Shorebirds Press Release

Means Named SAL Pitcher of the Week

Left-hander tossed Shorebirds? first no-hitter in 17 years

SALISBURY, Md. -- The South Atlantic League announced their weekly awards for July 27 to August 3, naming Shorebirds? starter John Means as their Pitcher of the Week. Means becomes the first Shorebird to be honored with a weekly league award this season.

During the week, Means made one start for Delmarva on July 31 against the Charleston RiverDogs. In game one of a doubleheader, the left-hander tossed a seven-inning no-hitter in a 4-0 win, the first for the franchise in 17 years. The previous Shorebirds? no-hitter came on April 27, 1998 when Matt Achilles did not allow a hit in a 5-0 win over the Hagerstown Suns.

Means struck out six batters in his no-hitter, including the final batter to complete the gem. His seven-inning outing was a career-long, having never worked past the sixth inning before. Means retired the final eight batters he faced, having allowed just three total baserunners (one walk, one hit-by-pitch, and one error).

The southpaw leads the Shorebirds with eight victories, and his 3.48 ERA ranks ninth amongst qualifying pitchers in the South Atlantic League. Means also leads the team in innings pitched (103.1), quality starts (6) and strikeouts (78). The Baltimore Orioles selected Means in the 11th round of the 2014 MLB Draft out of West Virginia University.

[Slade-OH]

Awesome month of July in general that Means had. He's number one on the latest edition of the HOT SHEET: http://orioleshangout.com/article/5270/orioles-prospect-hotsheet-july-edition-