Pirates' Bailey Falter leaves with posterior arm discomfort

PITTSBURGH -- Pittsburgh left-hander Bailey Falter was removed from his start in the third inning Saturday against the New York Mets because of what the Pirates said was left posterior arm discomfort.

Falter walked J.D. Martinez to load the bases with none out in a scoreless game and was immediately visited on the mound by manager Derek Shelton and an athletic trainer. Falter walked off without attempting a warmup pitch.

"I just obviously wanted to try to stay in the game for as much as possible, just to give the bullpen a little break," Falter said. "But I noticed a little discomfort in the warmup pitches in the third. Didn't really throw too many strikes. It kind of flared up after that and I kind of just lost feel for (the strike zone)."

Dennis Santana relieved Falter and struck out the next two batters before giving up a three-run double to Luis Torrens in an eventual 5-2 Mets win.

Falter entered the game with a 4-6 record and a 3.87 ERA in 16 starts this season.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.