Cliff Lee leaves start against Nationals in 3rd

WASHINGTON (AP) Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Cliff Lee, who recently returned after missing two months with a left elbow strain, left in the third inning of Thursday night's game at Washington.

The Phillies announced that Lee had a recurrence of the left flexor pronator strain that sidelined him in May. They gave no time table for Lee's return.

After throwing ball one to Denard Span with two outs in the third, a frustrated Lee walked off the mound, looked into the Phillies dugout, and tapped his left arm with his glove hand.

Manager Ryne Sandberg and the team trainer came out, and Lee left the game which was tied 0-0.

In his third start since coming off the disabled list, Lee (4-5) retired the first seven batters before Danny Espinosa's one-out double in the third.

Lee had pitched 10 2-3 innings in his first two starts back, allowing nine runs and 21 hits, while walking three and striking out seven.

Lee was replaced by Antonio Bastardo, who retired Span to end the inning.