Game update and Tillman on his start (O's, Pirates end in tie)

ORIOLES QUICK WRAP

Score: Orioles 3, Pirates 3

Recap: Chris Tillman allowed two runs and three hits in five innings, with no walks and eight strikeouts. He retired 11 of the last 12 batters. Pedro Alvarez hit a two-run homer off Tillman in the second inning to break a scoreless tie. Everth Cabrera hit his first spring home run in the third inning, and he got all of it. He tied the game in the seventh with an RBI triple and scored on Alejandro De Aza's infield hit. Brian Matusz allowed four hits in two-plus innings, and Darren O'Day let an inherited runner score in the eighth to tie the game. O'Day gave up an infield hit and got a double play, so it's hard to fault him. Zach Britton followed with a scoreless ninth and Mychal Givens pitched a scoreless 10th.

Need to know: Tillman made a terrific play to retire leadoff hitter Josh Harrison in the first inning, reaching back to snatch a hard bouncer up the middle. Never saw the ball, but it found his glove. Tillman threw 85 pitches, 50 for strikes. De Aza and Manny Machado had stolen bases in the seventh. Shortstop Jung Ho Kang robbed Jonathan Schoop in the second by ranging far to his right to backhand a ball and making a leaping throw to first. Attendance: 7,174 at Ed Smith Stadium.

On deck: Thursday at Braves in Orlando, 6:05 p.m.
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SARASOTA, Fla. - Everth Cabrera is shining beneath the lights tonight, hitting his first spring home run in the third inning and delivering the tying run with an RBI triple in the seventh.

Cabrera scored on Alejandro De Aza's infield hit to give the Orioles a 3-2 lead over the Pirates at Ed Smith Stadium.

Manny Machado was hit by a pitch leading off the seventh and stole second base before scoring on the triple.

Brian Matusz allowed three hits in two scoreless innings. He's permitted two earned runs in 14 1/3 innings this spring, with no walks and 12 strikeouts.

Chris Tillman finished strong tonight, retiring 11 of his last 12 batters. He was charged with two runs and three hits in five innings, with no walks and eight strikeouts.

"I thought it was good," Tillman said. "Ryan (Lavarnway) did a great job of mixing it up tonight. It was only my second time throwing to him. We were all on the same page for the most part, so I feel good about it."

Pedro Alvarez hit a long two-run homer to right field in the second inning. Tillman didn't feel good about that one.

"It was an awful changeup, 3-2," Tillman said, shaking his head. "Not a good pitch. I normally wouldn't throw that."

Tillman is done with Grapefruit League games. His next start comes on opening day at Tropicana Field.

"It feels good," Tillman said. "I think we're all ready to get this thing going. I feel like spring training lasts forever. It gets longer and longer every year. I think we've got a few things we need to get better at. I feel good about where we're at."

Tillman finishes with a 2.76 ERA this spring.

"I was able to work on what I needed to work on and get my ups, which is most important," he 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."

Tillman allowed one hit after Alvarez's home run, a double by Neil Walker in the fourth. He struck out five of the last eight batters.

"I came out in the first inning trying to get after that guy like I would later in the game," Tillman said. "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."

Tillman had Nick Hundley behind the plate for most of his starts last season. With Matt Wieters headed to the disabled list, the right-hander will be working with Caleb Joseph and perhaps Lavarnway, who's expected to win the backup job if the Orioles stay in-house.

"It's tough at first," Tillman said. "Last year, right when Wiety went down, it was tough on me, as you could tell by the numbers. But all of our catchers are good. They're really good at what they do. They give you a chance as long you give them a chance. If you give them all the tools, they're going to call a good game and they're going to throw guys out.

"As long as you help them out, they're definitely going to help you."

Update: Matusz gave up a leadoff double in the eighth and was replaced by Darren O'Day, who let the inherited runner score on an infield hit and double play.