Cubs' Edward Cabrera exits early vs. Rockies due to hand cramp

Chicago Cubs starter Edwin Cabrera left Tuesday's home game against the Colorado Rockies in the fifth inning with what the team called a cramp in his right hand.

The 28-year-old right-handed pitcher returned to the team earlier this month after a blister on his pitching hand sidelined him, leading the Cubs to place him on the 15-day injury list, retroactive to May 21.

In his third start since coming off the IL, Cabrera (4-3, 5.21 ERA) retired the Rockies in order the first time through the lineup. That changed in the fourth as Jake McCarthy singled to start the inning. He scored on Willi Castro's double, and TJ Rumfield followed with a home run to give the Rockies a 3-2 lead.

He got the next three batters to end the fourth. However, he started the fifth with back-to-back walks. Manager Craig Counsell and a trainer visited the mound after Cabrera struck out Edouard Julien, and Cabrera exited after a brief meeting on the mound.

Cabrera pitched 4 1/3 innings and gave up five runs on three hits and two walks. He also struck out three.

Should he need to return to the IL, Cabrera would become the 10th Cubs pitcher on the list. Chicago placed closer Daniel Palencia on the 15-day list earlier Tuesday due to elbow inflammation, just one day after he earned his second win of the season.