JUPITER, Fla. -- After six impressive innings, Brett Tomko doesn't feel he needs any more spring training tuneups.

Tomko allowed a run and three hits Thursday as the Cardinals played a 5-5, 12-inning tie with the Baltimore Orioles.

"If the season was ready to start now, I think I'd be ready," Tomko said. "Six innings in this heat is not easy to do."

Manager Tony La Russa agreed with Tomko, scheduled for one more start and perhaps some relief work before the March 31 opener against Milwaukee.

"The more times he's gone out there, the sharper he's getting," La Russa said.

Working in 82-degree temperature and high humidity, Tomko struck out the side in the first and finished with seven strikeouts and one walk. He had struggled in his two previous starts, allowing seven earned runs in 7 2/3 innings.

The start before that, he allowed one hit in four shutout innings.

"Staying healthy is the big thing," Tomko said. "I'm confident if I'm healthy, I'm going to give a good effort out there every time."

Tomko also had an RBI single, his second in as many games.

Scott Rolen hit his second homer of the spring and Tino Martinez, Todd Dunwoody and Fernando Vina each drove in a run. Vina was 1-for-3 and is batting .420, going 10-for-18 the last six games.