Lakeland, Fla. - Alex Rodriguez snapped a 1-for-14 slump with an opposite-field home run and Adam Warren allowed one run in five innings to lead the New York Yankees past the Detroit Tigers 11-2 Friday.

Rodriguez grounded into forceouts in his first two at-bats, then hit a drive to right off Bruce Rondon. The ball hit a warehouse beyond the right-field fence and bounced back onto the field. Rodriguez charged back to first before the umpires waved him around.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi acknowledged that Rodriguez, who missed the entire 2014 season while serving a drug suspension, was pressing and trying to find a groove.

"He knows how to make adjustments," Girardi said. "He's making improvements every day."

Warren, 3-6 with a 2.97 ERA in 69 relief appearances, is vying for a spot in the Yankees' rotation. He's 2-0 with a 2.77 ERA this spring training.

"I am feeling good about everything right now," Warren said. "It's a competition still, but I'm not putting any pressure on myself. There's enough pressure, anyway, without me adding to it."

Warren struck out three and walked none. He allowed a long home run to Yoenis Cespedes.

"I can't be focused on the other guys," Warren said. "But it's human nature to see how they are doing. Still, they are my teammates."

Starting time

Tigers: Alfredo Simon, who won 15 games for Cincinnati last year, allowed six runs in the first inning as his ERA rose to 6.75.

"I threw a lot of pitches that just weren't breaking," he said. "I wasn't getting it down, but I have time to work on it. It's just spring training, so it's better that it happened now than later."

Up next

Yankees: Michael Pineda is to make his third start today against Houston. He hasn't allowed a run in five innings.