By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com DETROIT -- Johnny Damon offered a familiar sight for his former Yankees teammates in their first meeting since the 2009 World Series, cracking one out of Comerica Park as the Tigers withstood a late rally and posted a 5-4 victory on Monday. Playing his first game against the Bronx Bombers since departing as a free agent, Damon rocketed a fifth-inning solo homer into the right-field seats to chase spot starter Sergio Mitre from his five-hit outing. Filling in after the Yankees shuffled their rotation to allow Andy Pettitte precautionary rest for his inflamed left elbow, Mitre completed 4 1/3 innings in his first start of the season, allowing four runs (three earned), walking two and striking out four. Brennan Boesch got to Mitre for a two-run single in the first inning, and former Yankees farmhand Austin Jackson connected for a run-scoring groundout in the second to stake Detroit to an early 3-0 advantage. Boesch added a run-scoring triple in the seventh off lefty Boone Logan. With scheduled starter Dontrelle Willis scratched due to illness, lefty Brad Thomas filled in for the Tigers. Mark Teixeira belted a two-run homer, his sixth, off Thomas in the third inning to cut the Yankees' deficit to 3-2 at the time. Alex Rodriguez and Robinson Cano opened the eighth inning with singles off Joel Zumaya, who walked Jorge Posada to load the bases. Marcus Thames drove in New York's third run with an infield hit, and former Yankees lefty Phil Coke induced Brett Gardner to hit into a weak fielder's choice, making it a one-run game. Ryan Perry came on with runners at the corners and two outs, and Derek Jeter sliced a line drive to right field that Magglio Ordonez snared with a sliding catch, preserving the Detroit lead.