Bombers bits

By Bryan Hoch

March 23, 2013

• The Yankees may need until their March 30 exhibition against Army to hammer out their first-base situation, Girardi said. Juan Rivera appears to be a front-runner for the position, but Dan Johnson is also still in camp and Kevin Youkilis won a Gold Glove Award at first base in 2007.

• Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner exited Saturday's game against the Tigers after five innings. Girardi told reporters that Gardner was fighting a stomach bug from something he ate on Friday and that the Yankees did not want him to get dehydrated. Gardner is expected to play on Sunday.

• Ben Francisco, who signed a Minor League deal with the Yankees this month after requesting to be released by the Indians, is making a strong bid for a roster spot. Francisco homered twice on Saturday against the Tigers and, including his stats with Cleveland, is batting .350 (14-for-40) this spring.

Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @bryanhoch and read his MLBlog, Bombers Beat.