MLB

Yankees catcher Martin spats with Orioles

BALTIMORE — Yankees catcher Russell Martin admitted he started a verbal spat with Orioles infielder Robert Andino after the final out of last night’s 6-2 win at Camden Yards.

“I said something first,’’ Martin said of the skirmish that included Andino yelling at Martin and manager Joe Girardi and O’s manager Buck Showalter directing his second baseman into the dugout. “I think I blacked out, I don’t remember.’’

Martin refused to say the reason he barked at Andino was because Andino was stealing signs, but several Yankees believed Andino was tipping location to Orioles hitters from second base in the ninth inning against Mariano Rivera.

“Anything is possible,’’ Martin said with a smirk. “Maybe he didn’t like the way I looked at him.’’

Girardi filed the flap under “Boys will be boys.’’

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When the Yankees signed Andy Pettitte to a non-guaranteed, one-year contract for $2.5 million last month, they already had six starters for five rotation spots.

Yet, it was clear that if the 39-year-old lefty pitched well in minor league games there would be a big league spot for him.

Now, with CC Sabathia and Hiroki Kuroda getting knocked around in their first outings and Phil Hughes unable to go beyond 4²/₃ innings in his initial game, getting Pettitte back to the big leagues looks a little more important than it did when he came out of retirement.

Pitching for Single-A Tampa last night in Clearwater, Fla., Pettitte threw three innings — he was slated for two — in which he allowed a run, two hits, fanned two and didn’t walk a batter.

“All in all I felt comfortable with everything,’’ Pettitte told the Associated Press. “My legs felt good underneath me.’’

It is likely Pettitte’s next start will be Sunday in Tampa against Clearwater.

Girardi wasn’t concerned what the pitching line looked like.

“It’s important how he felt,’’ Girardi said. “It sounds like he threw well.’’

If Pettitte feels good, he likely would be bumped to at least four and possibly five innings Sunday. At that rate, barring setbacks, Pettitte could be ready for big-league action early next month.

Following three days of throwing off flat ground to pitching coach Larry Rothschild in St. Petersburg, Michael Pineda (right shoulder tendinitis) rested yesterday. He is slated to long-toss and throw off flat ground today at the Yankees’ minor league complex in Tampa.

Girardi said Alex Rodriguez came through three games on Tropicana Field’s turf in good shape, but Rodriguez was the DH last night against Orioles lefty Brian Matusz. Eduardo Nunez, who played short Saturday night when Derek Jeter was the DH against the Rays, started at third.

As he did Saturday against lefty David Price, Girardi started the righty-hitting Andruw Jones in left and sat Brett Gardner. Nick Swisher batted second. With the O’s starting lefty Wei-Yin Chen tonight, Girardi likely will stay with the same lineup.

“Eventually, Gardy will play against lefties,’’ Girardi said.

Rodriguez went 0-for-4 and hit into a double play. Nunez went 1-for-2, drove in a run with a sacrifice fly and got hit by a pitch. Jones homered, and Gardner, who replaced Jones for defensive purposes in the sixth, singled home a run. Swisher went 0-for-3 and walked twice.

Curtis Granderson, who fouled a ball off his right calf Sunday, was in the lineup, hitting sixth. Raul Ibanez also fouled a ball of his leg Sunday, but his absence from the lineup last night was expected against a lefty.

Granderson went 1-for-4 and scored twice.

The Yankees avoided a 0-4 start for the first time since 1973.

Robinson Cano (1-for-4) has hit safely in 22 of his last 23 games at Camden Yards. He is a career .365 (88-for-241) hitter in Baltimore.