HOUSTON -- Noah Syndergaard left his debut with the Cleveland Guardians after being hit on the right leg by a line drive in the sixth inning of Monday night's 7-3 loss to the Houston Astros.
Syndergaard, who was traded from the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday, was making his first start since June 7. He spent time on the injured list with a blister on his right index finger.
With the Guardians leading 2-0, he walked Jose Altuve to start the sixth. Altuve stole second base, and Jeremy Peña then hit a ball that bounced off Syndergaard's lower right leg.
Syndergaard fielded the ball and got it to first for the out. But manager Terry Francona and a trainer were soon called to the mound to check on the right-hander.
He threw a few warmup pitches before chatting with the staff and being removed from the game. Eli Morgan replaced him.
Syndergaard said he was OK but feeling sore after the game.
"As far as my calf, it feels worse now than it did when it actually happened," he said. "It just made it a little difficult to trust my back side, and [Francona] didn't want me going out there compensating because of it and potentially risking a different injury."
Syndergaard allowed two hits and one run in 5 1/3 innings to remain winless since April 30.
"For not competing in a big league game in two months, I felt like my efficiency and strike-throwing was really good," he said. "I just look forward to getting back on the mound whenever that is."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.