SARASOTA, FLA. — Orioles right-hander Chris Tillman made his final start of spring training in Wednesday's night exhibition game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Ed Smith Stadium, allowing two runs over five innings in a 3-3 tie.
"I was able to work on what I needed to work on and get my 'ups,' which is most important," Tillman said. "The toughest part of starting is getting up five, six times and getting the body used to the reps, so I feel good about where we're at."
The only runs Tillman allowed came on Pirates first basemen Pedro Alvarez's two-run homer in the second inning. Tillman hung a 3-2 changeup against Alvarez, who blasted a towering shot over the right-field wall.
"Not a good pitch," Tillman said. "I normally wouldn't throw that."
After Alvarez's homer, Tillman retired 11 of the final 12 batters he faced. He allowed just three hits and posted eight strikeouts and no walks. Five of his final eight outs came by strikeout.
"Yeah, it's always going to be that way," Tillman said of bouncing back. "I came out in the first inning trying to get after that guy like I would later in the game. It was different, but it worked out well. We were mixing pitches. It's something that I've got to do more often — not give up any runs in the first."
In four Grapefruit League starts, Tillman had a 2.76 ERA, allowing five earned runs and 13 over 16 1/3 innings while striking out 18 and walking two. He also pitched three scoreless innings against a Puerto Rican developmental team.
Everth Cabrera, making his third straight start at shortstop with J.J. Hardy out with a left shoulder injury, drove in the Orioles' first two runs, including a game-tying triple in the seventh inning. He scored the go-ahead run that inning on Alejandro De Aza's infield single.
In the third inning, Cabrera hit his first home run of the spring, a solo blast to left field off Pirates starter Francisco Liriano.
After going 2-for-3 with two runs, Cabrera has five hits in his last 11 at bats.
"There's a lot of new things going on in his life, new teammates," Showalter said. "I think he's a little more comfortable with the new environment he's in. He's trying to make the club. ... His effort's been great since day one."