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The Best of the Day: May 5th, 2021
See the best of the day in sports from May 5, 2021 including Means' close-to-perfect no-hitter, Ja out-dueling Anthony Edwards, and more!
The Baltimore Sun
The ‘Best of the Day’ is a daily PSO original series showcasing the most significant stories, highlights, and facts going on in the land of the NFL, NBA, & MLB every day. Get a recap on EVERYTHING that happened on 5/5 here.
Baltimore Orioles SP John Means recorded the third no-hitter of the 2021 MLB season on Wednesday. Coming so close to a perfect game, Means’ no-hitter vs. Seattle was historically unique on several levels. Also, while not there yet, Ja Morant will soon find himself among the best PGs in the NBA after declaring himself top-5, Richaun Holmes threw down an explosive dunk vs. Indiana, and the Bucks earned another impressive victory, this time against the red-hot Wizards.
Here is the best of the day from May 5, 2021:
John Means was a dropped 3rd strike away from throwing the 24th Perfect Game ever
Orioles starting pitcher John Means came about as close to perfection as possible vs. the Mariners on Wednesday. Only a wild pitch in the dirt that resulted in a dropped third strike prevented him from the rare perfect game. Instead, he’ll have to settle for his first career no-hitter.
The no-hitter was historic for both Baltimore and the league. It was the first individual no-hitter thrown by an Orioles pitcher since 1969, snapping the longest active streak in the majors. His 12 K’s were also the most recorded by a pitcher in a no-hitter in Orioles franchise history. Means is the first pitcher ever to throw a non-perfect no-hitter without allowing any BB, HBP, or errors. Finally, his brilliant performance resulted in the first no-hitter during which the only base runner came via a dropped third strike in MLB history.
Now in his fourth MLB season since debuting in 2018, Means is off to the best start of his career. In seven games started, the 28-year-old lefty owns a 4-0 record with a sterling 1.37 ERA and an AL-leading 0.674 WHIP. He has been among the best pitchers in baseball this season and will be looking to earn his second All-Star nod after previously making the roster in 2019.
🚫 NO-HITTER 🚫
— ESPN (@espn) May 5, 2021
John Means is the first individual Orioles pitcher to throw a no-hitter since Jim Palmer in 1969. The longest active streak in MLB 🔥 pic.twitter.com/NYvLXIdpfL
John Means' 12 strikeouts are the most by an Orioles/Browns pitcher in a no-hitter
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) May 5, 2021
#Orioles John Means has thrown the first ever no-hitter during which the only batter to reach came via the dropped third strike rule.
— Ryan M. Spaeder (@theaceofspaeder) May 5, 2021
John Means is the first pitcher to throw a non-perfect no-hitter in which the team did not record a walk, hit by pitch, or error.
— MLB Stats (@MLBStats) May 5, 2021
h/t @EliasSports pic.twitter.com/1QzpJqawck
John Means recorded the most swinging strikes (26) by an Orioles pitcher during 1 GP since the pitch-tracking era began in 2008 pic.twitter.com/YWAi8JktGB
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) May 6, 2021
Related: Stories of the Day
JA MORANT ISN’T A TOP-5 PG RIGHT NOW, BUT IT WON’T BE LONG UNTIL HE IS
Ja Morant was recently asked in an interview where he thought he ranked amongst the league’s point guards, and his response was “top five, for sure”. There is no doubt that he has already made substantial noise in the NBA less than two years into his career. Morant won rookie of the year in 2020 and has Memphis currently in the playoff hunt, but it’s too soon for an unbiased source to call him top five at the most talented position in the NBA.
When it comes to Ja’s rank right now, there is a pretty clear group of five that have been better than him this season. It is hard to argue that he has had a better season than Stephen Curry, Damian Lillard, Russell Westbrook, Chris Paul, or Luka Doncic. All five of these point guards will receive All-NBA consideration this year and have earned the right to be ranked above Morant, but his time is soon to come.
Although the 2020 rookie of the year may not be a top-five point guard this season, it won’t be long until he is. Everyone from that list minus Luka is at least 30 years of age, while Morant is only 21 and has already done so much individually and for his team. It is very clear that he has a long future in this league, and is only getting started. With how much he’s accomplished in only two seasons, there is no reason to doubt that Ja is well on his way to becoming a top-five point guard in the NBA, sooner than later.
COLORS KEY | FULL GRIZZLIES OUTLOOK
Sheesh, Ja 😳 pic.twitter.com/KUJfYHcstf
— NBA TV (@NBATV) May 6, 2021
These young 🌟 guards put on a SHOW.
— NBA (@NBA) May 6, 2021
Ja: 37 PTS, 10 AST, W
Ant: 42 PTS (17-22 FGM), 7 AST, 8 3PM@JaMorant x @theantedwards_ pic.twitter.com/IRGGSfoQiG
Related: NBA Takeaways of the Day
Holmes detonated on the Pacers
Richaun Holmes with a NASTY slam 💥 pic.twitter.com/NpBjdVI9vT
— NBA TV (@NBATV) May 6, 2021
Related: NBA Highlights
PG Ja Morant, MEM (W @MIN): 37 PTS (14-25 FG | 1-2 3P), 10 AST, 4 REB, 1 BLK, 2 STL, 4 TO
#PlayerOfTheDay (5/5/21): PG Ja Morant, MEM
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) May 6, 2021
TOP FACTS:
- 2x more GP (5) w/ 30p & 10a than any MEM player ever
- Outdueled Anthony Edwards' career-high 42 PTS
- Most PTS by Morant since Game 1 of the season
KEY STATS:
37 PTS, 10 AST, 2 STL, 14-25 FG (56%) https://t.co/2wmRM0gTaw
Related: Players of the Day
Washington Wizards (134) vs. Milwaukee Bucks (135)
[Highlights] @BUCKS (-175; $9.51) d. WIZARDS (+155; $10.88) 135-134 [WSH +4 | o243]
Related: Games of the Day
Related: Facts of the Day
2021 NFL Draft Rankings: Top 5 Defensive Linemen by Ricky Eisenbart
PSO ranks the top D-lineman from the 2021 draft based on their physical tools, game film, production, and overall risk
Ranking the top 5 DL in the 2021 NFL Draft:
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) May 6, 2021
1. @LeviOnw
2. @Chris_Bmore4u
3. ???
4. ???
5. ???
CREATE YOUR OWN DRAFT RANKINGS ⬇️ https://t.co/5ZJMPPgWPc
Related: Latest PSO Posts
DATE: May 5, 2018
SIGNIFICANCE: LeBron drained his 5th playoff buzzer-beater, the most all-time, cementing his nickname of “LeBronto”
May 4, 2018: LeBron drained his 5th career postseason GW buzzer-beater (most all-time) to defeat the Toronto Raptors in Game 3, taking a commanding 3-0 series lead, cementing his nickname of "LeBronto" due to his constant playoff victories over the Raptors pic.twitter.com/t8d7mpjG35
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) May 5, 2021
Related: Significant Sports History
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