Apr 2, 2015 2 min read

TAMPA, Fla. – Alex Rodriguez is having some success at a new position.

Rodriguez made several nice plays during his second start at first base, and a New York Yankees’ split squad beat the Pittsburgh Pirates, 6-2, Thursday.

“He’s been great,” Yankees co-chairman Hank Steinbrenner said. “I’m very happy,”

Rodriguez is hitting .286 (12 for 42) with three homers.

He nearly turned a double play after fielding Gregory Polanco’s grounder and recording the out at first base in the opening inning. He made nice scoops in the first and sixth innings on throws by shortstop Stephen Drew.

“I thought Alex needed the practice,” Drew said with a smile.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi said he would have no problem playing Rodriguez at third or first base.

“He got tested,” Girardi said. “It was good.”

Rodriguez had a little problem with Starling Marte’s foul pop fly in the third but made the catch, and he cleanly played grounders by Pedro Alvarez and Andrew Lambo one inning later. He went 0 for 3 with two strikeouts at the plate, hitting a deep drive to center leading of the third that Marte grabbed at the fence.

Pirates starter A.J. Burnett allowed six hits, one walk and had two strikeouts in four shutout innings. “I feel better than I have in the past at this time, so confident I’m where I need to be,” he said.

Center fielder Andrew McCutchen had a scheduled day off. He left Wednesday’s game against Baltimore in the eighth after slipping on the plate on a grounder but is fine.

Pittsburgh’s Jeff Locke will face Phillies pitcher Aaron Harang Friday night in Philadelphia. The teams then wrap up spring training with another game Saturday.

“Everybody’s been challenged to get a little bit better,” Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle said. “Everything has been worked on. We’re going to be ready.”