Yanks' Hughes leaves Game 3 start in fourth

Detroit, MI – New York Yankees starter Phil Hughes exited Game 3 of the American League Championship Series against the Detroit Tigers with back stiffness in the fourth inning.

Hughes stranded four runners over the first three frames to match Justin Verlander's scoreless start, but surrendered a leadoff homer to Delmon Young in the fourth.

After issuing a walk to Andy Dirks, Hughes threw two strikes to Jhonny Peralta, then called to the dugout and walked off after a brief discussion with the team trainer.

"(Hughes') low back...on the left side tightened up a little bit," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said after the game. "We'll see what we have [Wednesday] which will determine what we do with him."

David Phelps relieved Hughes and retired Peralta on a flyout to center, but the Yankees wound up losing, 2-1, and trail the series, 3-0.