Salazar leaves early with forearm tightness

MINNEAPOLIS - Cleveland Indians pitcher Danny Salazar left his start early due to tightness in his right forearm.

Salazar finished four innings at Minnesota on Friday night, allowing five hits, four runs, two walks and two homers while striking out four over 76 pitches. He left with a 5-4 lead. The Indians announced that Salazar was pulled as a precaution.

The right-hander has not won in seven starts since July 19, his first after the All-Star break. Salazar (11-6) was on the disabled list for two-plus weeks in early August with elbow inflammation.

The Indians won for the ninth time in their last 11 games, despite the removal of Salazar, who manager Terry Francona said was dealing with a muscular issue and not structural.

''We'll see how he feels and then we'll go from there,'' Francona said after the 5-4 win.