Wrapping up O's 4-4 tie with Mets

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - After each team scored twice in the ninth inning today, the New York Mets were out of pitchers, and the Orioles and Mets played to a 4-4 tie.

The Orioles have not lost since March 9 and are 7-0-1 over the last eight games. They are 13-8-2 for the Grapefruit League season.

Anthony Santander's two-run homer in the top of the ninth gave the O's a 4-2 lead before the Mets tied it versus right-hander James Teague in the bottom half. It was Santander's fourth spring homer. A walk, a wild pitch and an Erick Salcedo error contributed to the Mets' two runs, which were both unearned.

Right-hander Andrew Cashner made his second O's start and allowed just four hits and one run with no walks and three strikeouts in five innings. He threw 63 pitches with a fastball that touched 95 mph and added about 15 more pitches in the bullpen after his outing. He's now allowed just one run in nine innings over two starts.

"Cashner was good," manager Buck Showalter said. "He had to go to the bullpen to get some more pitches to get to around 80. That was good. It's kind of like the last outing, too. He's got five innings, 80 pitches under his belt already, and we've got almost two weeks left. That's kind of him. He has that feel right now."

Showalter was asked if Cashner has brought a certain attitude and edge to his starting rotation.

"It's fine. He's got a track record," Showalter said. "He's been in the big leagues. What he knows is the accountability factor. This is about getting people out. It's still about pitching. His words carry some weight. It's not like he's not pitched in the American League before. He's pitched in a tough division there, too."

A few post-start comments from Cashner:

On the outing: "I thought I worked both sides of the plate. I worked the ball up. I was really working on my breaking ball today, thought I threw some good ones. I got a lot of ground balls, and got the sinker up at the top of the zone. It's fun to work with Caleb (Joseph)."

On his spring approach: "For me, it's a process. It's not so much spring. The season is just a process of building up and doing what I need to do to build up. I think that for me, it starts with my glove-side fastball and everything works off that. I'm pleased with where I'm at. Can I get better? Yes. We'll see where we're at here at the end of spring."

On what he brings to the team and working with the other pitchers: "I just think it's kind of my personality. I definitely would say I have an edge, to me. I just like to compete, and I feel like if I can elevate other people's games around me, it's just going to make us better as a team.

"I think as a group, as a whole, I think they're helping me just as much as I'm helping them. I think it's just getting to know everybody. It's all in the same goal - to win. We continually watch each other's bullpens and tell each other what we see and try to translate it into the game to work on things."

Tim Beckham hit a solo homer today, his third of the spring. He continues to impress Showalter with how well he has handled his defense at third base.

"I wouldn't say (he's) ahead or behind, but the progress has been very satisfying," Showalter said.

Right-hander Hunter Harvey pitched in a Triple-A game today. Showalter said it went quite well. Harvey pitched three innings, throwing 46 pitches. He was getting such quick outs that he stayed out to get four outs in one inning and five in another. He gave up just two hits with no walks and five strikeouts.

Showalter indicated that Chris Davis would like to return to the lineup on Saturday, but he still expects that will happen Sunday when the Orioles host the Mets at Ed Smith Stadium. The Orioles host Toronto in Sarasota on Saturday afternoon. Mike Wright Jr. gets the start.