Nationals' Cavalli exits game vs. Miami in 4th inning after getting hit in leg by a grounder

WASHINGTON (AP) — Washington Nationals pitcher Cade Cavalli left Saturday’s 5-4 victory against Miami in the fourth inning after being hit in the right leg by a hard ground ball.

With two outs in the fourth, Miami third baseman Javier Sanoja hit a 93-mph grounder that caromed off Cavalli, who had not allowed a hit. He recovered quickly enough to throw out Sanoja, but limped to the dugout and down into the tunnel.

The team said Cavalli left the game with right calf discomfort.

“Feeling better,” Cavalli said. “We got some soft tissue work on it, just trying to loosen it up. It just tightened up. We didn't want to risk anything compensating with my upper body and putting my arm in a weird position. It just felt a little uncomfortable pushing off. We're just being more cautious than anything.”

Manager Blake Butera said he tentatively expects Cavalli to be day to day, depending on how he is Sunday. X-rays on Cavalli were negative.

Left-hander Erik Tolman relieved Cavalli to start the fifth and allowed Miami's first hit in the game, a single to Joe Mack, the second batter he faced.

Cavalli struck out eight and walked three. The 28-year-old right-hander is 12-5 with a 3.12 ERA in his first full year in the majors, including 7-1 with a 1.95 ERA in his last 10 outings. Saturday was the first time since July 5 that Cavalli did not complete five innings.

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