TAMPA, Fla. -- Daniel Norris is battling some sort of illness, which was evident in the Tigers left-hander's face and voice following Sunday's 7-1 split-squad loss to the Yankees.

He's also battling a severe case of frustration, as evidenced by his reaction to three home runs allowed over 1 2/3 innings. After reporting to Spring Training in his best shape in years, his health has not yet translated to the mound.

"Frustrating, yes," Norris said. "Right now, it seems like all for naught."

His manager for the day might disagree. Doug Mientkiewicz, who managed a Tigers split squad for the second time this week, also managed Norris during his rehab assignment at Triple-A Toledo last summer.

"The stuff’s there," Mientkiewicz said. "[It's] around the zone, not in it enough. I think sometimes he gets in his own way a lot. I think that's his M.O.; at least, it has been. When you fall behind at this level, you’re going to get killed.

"It’s a pretty good lineup to run through, but his stuff's there. It's just a trust factor with him."

For the second consecutive Spring Training, Norris faced a formidable Yankees lineup that included Brett Gardner, Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton and Gary Sanchez in order. Last year, Norris struck out Judge but gave up a two-out Stanton single ahead of a Sanchez home run.

On Sunday, Norris' outing began with back-to-back homers, Gardner pulling his second pitch deep to right before Judge lined a 1-2 fastball over the right-field fence for an opposite-field shot.

"The home runs were on fastballs," Norris said. "I feel like I beat Judge on it, but it went out."

The home runs seemed to rattle Norris, who battled his command in what became a 32-pitch first inning that was extended by an infield single and a two-out walk. After a mound visit from pitching coach Rick Anderson, Norris nearly lost Estevan Florial from an 0-2 count before retiring him on a full-count fastball for a flyout.

Norris' delivery looked smoother, having ditched the recoil at the end of his release.

"Just trying to throw strikes and stay out of the middle of the zone, which I didn't do very good today obviously," he said.

Norris seemed to settle down in the second inning, striking out Thairo Estrada on a curveball before retiring Kyle Holder on a changeup. But up again came Gardner, who watched a pair of offspeed pitches out of the strike zone before turning on another fastball.

"I thought I was more in control the second inning and I made some pitches, good curveballs and changeups," Norris said. "And then the home run obviously dampened that. But it's a game of adjustments. I felt like I made that, just minus one pitch there."

Norris' fastball ranged from 89 to 91 mph, about the same as his first outing of the spring six days earlier. That, too, could be a source of frustration, though the mix of curveballs and changeups seemed to work.

"Now that I don't throw hard, I have to rely on that more," said Norris, who added moments later he continues to work on his fastball.

Whether or not Norris' fastball returns to the mid-90s, Mientkiewicz said that shouldn't determine whether he can get outs.

"I'm not a big velo guy," Mientkiewicz said. "There’s a lot of successful guys, guys that have plaques in Cooperstown, that didn't throw that hard. I know the game has changed a little bit, but by the same token, there's a lot of ways to [pitch].

"His ball moves. He’s got four pitches. You just hope that you throw it in there enough to get outs."

• Kody Clemens looking to make name for himself

Quick hits

• The Tigers' second 7-1 loss in three days again featured a Ronny Rodriguez home run as Detroit's lone tally. This time, he connected on an Aroldis Chapman pitch for his third homer of the spring in his bid for a utility spot on the Tigers' roster.

• Daz Cameron led off the game with a triple to deep center field, Detroit’s lone hit off Yankees starter Masahiro Tanaka.

"I'm just impressed by the way he handles himself," Mientkiewicz said. "He just plays and he's not afraid. He's fearless. He works. All the things you want out of a player, he does."

Up next
The Tigers return to Lakeland and reunite for a full-squad game, taking on the Cardinals in a 1:05 p.m. ET start at Joker Marchant Stadium. Michael Fulmer will make his second start of the spring opposite Adam Wainwright. The broadcast will be available online via MLB Gameday Audio and on AM 1270 in Detroit.