Pirates closer Jason Grilli leaves game with arm injury

Jason Grilli bends down after suffering an arm injury on Monday. (MCT/Getty Images)

The National League Wild Card-leading Pittsburgh Pirates received some potentially bad news in their 6-5 win over the Washington Nationals on Monday night.

Closer Jason Grilli left the game in the middle of a save opportunity with an arm injury, and he looked like he was in obvious pain as he left. Before he exited the game, he bent over and appeared to point to either his forearm or elbow. ESPN.com's Buster Olney reported the Pirates are only calling the injury a "right forearm discomfort."

Grilli was in the midst of a rough attempt at holding what had been a three-run Pirates lead heading into the bottom of the ninth. He had given up a two-run homer to Jason Werth.

Despite the bumps on Tuesday, the 36-year-old Grilli is enjoying a career year, converting 30 of his 31 save opportunities and posting a 1.94 ERA. He appeared in his first All-Star Game earlier this month and was recently featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated.