Caked into the criteria of a true ace, the traditional thinking goes, is more than just individual dominance. Aces compile the best statistics on their pitching staff, yes. But true aces, the type teams build staffs around, do more. True aces also stop losing streaks, halt team-wide skids, and generally serve as a pillar, standing tall every fifth day, when the rest of the rotation goes askew.

Which is why those asking whether John Means truly fits the description -- it’s a question coming up more and more these days -- might consider his effort in the Orioles' 8-3 loss to the Twins on Monday night at Target Field. Had it been in support of a more complete team, the seven innings of two-run ball Means spun against Minnesota might have been more than enough to stabilize the reeling O's, perhaps even spur a new streak of the winning kind.

But that is not the team Means plays on, at least not yet. His is a rebuilding team of extreme polarity. Baltimore sports baseball’s second-worst rotation by ERA -- while Means emerges as maybe the league’s best pitcher. The O's have the Majors' RBI leader in Trey Mancini, yet an offense prone to stretches of silence with runners in scoring position. They have a bullpen that was one of baseball’s best in April, and in May has made a habit of combusting like it did behind Means in the series opener.

“He was awesome,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “You win games when he pitches like that. And we didn’t.”

As it was, Means held Minnesota to Trevor Larnach and Kyle Garlick solo homers to deliver the best start by an Orioles pitcher since … well, Means, two turns through the rotation ago. The problem was what came after. He was in position to win after DJ Stewart’s go-ahead two-run homer in the eighth, which the outfielder punctuated with a dramatic bat flip. Minutes later the Orioles were down five, via rough outings from Tanner Scott and Cesar Valdez.

“We’re just really struggling out of the bullpen,” Hyde said. “We need some dudes to step it up.”

The result was Baltimore’s seventh straight defeat, 14th in 16 games since Means’ May 5 no-hitter against Seattle, and further evidence of Means’ growing status not just atop the O’s rotation, but among elite starters MLB-wide.

That the Orioles have now lost half of his starts shouldn’t halt that momentum. Means is still yet to lose personally this season; of his six no-decisions, five have been the result of an offensive shutout or bullpen implosion behind him. He’s left with a lead eight times, and won only half of those games.

Then there is the issue of the rotation and quality of play around him. In 16 games since his no-hitter in Seattle, Orioles starters not named Means own a collective 9.46 ERA. The club’s relievers have pitched to a 6.10 ERA. The O’s haven’t gotten a six-inning start from anyone not named Means since May 3, and are backing Means with just 3.9 runs per game -- Monday was the sixth time he’s received three or fewer runs of support in 10 starts, five of them team losses. Means’ ERA is 2.59 in those outings, and 1.79 overall.

“John has been incredible,” Stewart said. “He is pitching like an ace and even more. It’s fun to play behind him because you know you aren’t going to get many balls hit to you, but when you do, you want to make the play and get him the ball so he can go get the next guy … this one is going to sting.”

Asked to evaluate his latest performance, Means said he “felt OK,” called his fastball command “pretty average” and generally downplayed his outing as humdrum. In a sense, it was, given the bar he keeps raising and the gulf between Means and his teammates he keeps widening. But he’s clearly in the minority viewing himself through such a critical lens. When asked postgame if Means deserved to win on Monday, his manager reacted incredulously.

“What?!” Hyde asked, appearing genuinely surprised by the question.

He considered the answer obvious.