Fill-in Chavez breaks toe, DL likely

DETROIT -- Alex Rodriguez's day off lasted a little more than three innings.

Derek Jeter may not get another one for some time.

Joe Girardi decided to give both his future Hall of Famers a day's rest Thursday afternoon and both moves backfired for different reasons.

Jeter's replacement, Eduardo Nuñez, committed two errors that led to two Tigers' runs in the Yankees' 6-3 loss.

But of more long-term importance, Eric Chavez, who got the start at third for A-Rod, broke the pinkie toe in his left foot while legging out a triple in the fourth inning, and is likely headed to disabled list. "Obviously it's a big blow for us," said A-Rod, who had been in a 5-for-40 slump but had two hits after pinch running for Chavez. "He was swinging the bat extremely well since camp and provided a lot of depth for our team."

Chavez, who has played only 64 games over the past three seasons because of various injuries, will meet with team physician Dr. Christopher Ahmad today in New York. The likeliest candidate to replace Chavez from Triple-A is Ramiro Peña, though Girardi said Jorge Vazquez is a possibility as well.

Nuñez's throwing error on Brennan Boesch's grounder didn't hurt the Yankees, but his high throw over Teixeira in the seventh did. Girardi said he would stick with the 23-year-old, who had hits in his first two at-bats, including a run-scoring single in the fourth.

Jeter's absence had nothing to do with his removal the previous night because of a hip Girardi said was "grabbing" at him.

"There's no injury," Jeter said Thursday. "I had zero treatment today."

Girardi said Jeter would be in the lineup Friday in Texas.