Phillies pitcher Jake Arrieta exits spring training game with shoulder stiffness

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — Phillies pitcher Jake Arrieta left his start Thursday in the fourth inning with shoulder stiffness. He was not alarmed and called the exit precautionary.

Tests came back normal, and Arrieta said he would have stayed in if it was a regular-season game. He emphasized that it was not an injury.

Arrieta allowed a home run to Tampa Bay’s Hunter Renfroe then recorded the first out of the bottom of the fourth. He was visited on the mound by catcher Andrew Knapp and pitching coach Bryan Price quickly joined them. After several moments of discussion, manager Joe Girardi and athletic trainer Shawn Fcasni joined the group on the mound. Arrieta walked off the mound with Fcasni by his side. The pitcher then huddled in the dugout with Price, Girardi and the athletic training staff.