Young likely will miss the entire series in New York, and the Twins will allow the 23-year-old outfielder to determine when it's appropriate to return.

Jose Morales was recalled from Class AAA Rochester to fill in during Young's absence, though manager Ron Gardenhire said he wasn't certain how much the catcher, who batted .340 with the Twins in April, would play.

"If (backup catcher Mike) Redmond gets on base in the seventh inning, I can pinch-run for him now. And if I DH Joe (Mauer), I've got a third catcher in case something happens," Gardenhire said. "And I might throw the kid out there, too. He's done it before."

Morales was informed of Young's situation, and his recall, Thursday, and was in uniform at Yankee Stadium on Friday.

Did Gardenhire, considering the number of innings his bullpen had to pitch last week, consider recalling a pitcher instead?

"No," he said. "If you can't do it with 12 pitchers, you stink."

Nathan debate: The bullpen remains overtaxed, but don't expect Gardenhire to expand Joe Nathan's workload as a result.

The manager said he might have considered using the closer in the eighth inning of Thursday's 6-5 win over Detroit, but he had been ejected, and pitching coach Rick Anderson elected to go with Matt Guerrier, who successfully got the third out.

Just as well. Nathan-in-the-eighth doesn't strike Gardenhire as a good idea, anyway, not if he wants him available for every save situation.

"I've thought about it a few times. But I don't want to push Nathan. I will not do that with my closer," Gardenhire said of Nathan, who has six saves this season. "I've seen it done. I've seen (Red Sox closer Jonathan) Papelbon come in in the eighth -- but I've also seen nights when he's not available, and I don't like that feeling. I don't like those days when I don't have a closer."

Briefly: Joe Crede left Friday's game in the fifth inning with tightness in his lower back. It's the first sign of back trouble from Crede, who missed more than 150 games over the past two seasons with back pain that required surgery.

Yankees left fielder Johnny Damon was ejected in the third inning after using his bat to point out where he believed an inside pitch, called strike three, missed the plate. It was the third career ejection for Damon, who was replaced by Brent Gardner -- who later hit an inside-the-park home run.