masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgChris Tillman has retired the first six Yankees tonight, striking out Chase Headley to end the top of the second inning.

Tillman has thrown 30 pitches, 20 for strikes.

Yankees starter Michael Pineda is pitching for the first time in the majors since April 23, when he was ejected from a game at Fenway Park for using pine tar on the ball. And his cap. And his neck. And his pregame meal.

Helps with tartar control.

A New York reporter asked Showalter whether he’d be checking Pineda for a…Chris Tillman has retired the first six Yankees tonight, striking out Chase Headley to end the top of the second inning.

Tillman has thrown 30 pitches, 20 for strikes.

Yankees starter Michael Pineda is pitching for the first time in the majors since April 23, when he was ejected from a game at Fenway Park for using pine tar on the ball. And his cap. And his neck. And his pregame meal.

Helps with tartar control.

A New York reporter asked Showalter whether he’d be checking Pineda for a sticky substance during tonight’s start.

“No,” Showalter replied, “because our guy’s going to have it loaded down, too, so I’m going to let them do whatever they want.”

Laughter ensued.

Pineda also has retired the first six batters he’s faced, including Chris Davis, who struck out.

Davis is making his first career start as the No. 2 hitter.

Melvin-Mora-kids.jpgDown on the farm, Miguel Gonzalez has retired the first six Buffalo batters he’s faced tonight for Triple-A Norfolk. The Orioles will limit him to three or four innings.

Melvin Mora, future member of the Orioles Hall of Fame, threw out the ceremonial first pitch tonight to center fielder Adam Jones. They met halfway and embraced as the crowd cheered.

I wonder whether Mora could play third base in Manny Machado’s absence. He hasn’t changed a bit.

You know what’s changed? His quintuplets are 13 years old.

How old does that make you feel?

Update: No. 9 hitter Francisco Cervelli belted a two-run homer in the third inning to give New York a 2-0 lead.

Stephen Drew led off with a double to left field on a ball that Delmon Young failed to catch on a sliding attempt. Cervelli homered with one out and the count full, making him 4-for-9 lifetime against Tillman.

Gonzalez retired nine of 10 Buffalo batters tonight, including Edwin Encarnacion twice. He permitted one hit.

Update II: Nelson Cruz broke up Pineda’s perfect game with a leadoff double in the fifth, and he scored on Ryan Flaherty’s sacrifice fly to reduce New York’s lead to 2-1.

Steve Pearce singled to advance Cruz to third base.

Cruz is 8-for-20 with two home runs in his last six games.