DETROIT – Yankees pitcher Phil Hughes left Game 3 of the AL championship series against Detroit in the fourth inning with a stiff back.
The New York starter allowed a solo homer by Delmon Young and a walk to Andy Dirks in the fourth, and then he was pulled with an 0-2 count on Jhonny Peralta.
Rookie David Phelps came on in relief. Phelps was given all the time he needed to warm up.
Hughes looked sharp through the first three innings Tuesday night, matching Tigers ace Justin Verlander in a scoreless duel. Detroit took a 1-0 lead on Young's homer to left field. The Tigers were leading 2-0 in the best-of-seven series.
Hughes threw 61 pitches. He allowed a run and three hits in three-plus innings. He walked three and struck out one.
The right-hander dealt with back problems last year, when an MRI found inflammation caused by a herniated disk, an injury from seven years earlier.
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