Cubs' Arrieta leaves game with suspected leg cramps

[September 05, 2017]    (Reuters) - Chicago Cubs ace Jake Arrieta left his team's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates with a leg injury in the third inning on Monday, though the team later said it appeared to just be due to the effects of cramping.

 Cubs starting pitcher Jake Arrieta (49) is helped from the field after suffering an apparent injury against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the third inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Arrieta grabbed the back of his leg while pitching against Pirates and after trying to loosen up was unable to throw a warmup pitch before limping off the field. Chicago lost 12-0 to the Pirates but the great concern after the game was the health of their pitcher.

"He felt pretty good afterwards," Cubs manager Joe Maddon told reporters. "He started to loosen up (after the game).

"He was able to go through the delivery motion like he was unable to out on the field."

Arrieta, 31, said he hoped to recover in time for his next start.

"I'll do some things tonight, keep icing it 20 minutes every hour and see how I feel in the morning," he said. "But as of now I don't foresee it being much of an issue."

(Writing by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles; Editing by Greg Stutchbury)

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