Estrada exits in 1st inning with hip soreness

Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Marco Estrada faced just three batters Tuesday at Rogers Centre, exiting his start against the New York Mets due to left hip soreness, the club announced, after issuing a one-out walk and then serving up a home run to Asdrubal Cabrera in the top of the first.

X-rays on Estrada came back negative, the Blue Jays added, and the 34-year-old is undergoing further evaluation.

Estrada threw only 12 pitches before departing, and his four-seam fastball - which has averaged 89.5 mph this season - topped out at 85. He appeared to tweak something on a pitch to Mets leadoff hitter Brandon Nimmo.

Estrada carried a 4.53 ERA and 1.30 WHIP into Tuesday's outing at Rogers Centre, his 17th start of the season. Lately, however, the one-time All-Star - an impending free agent and potential trade target - has been terrific, managing a 2.35 ERA and 3.86 strikeout-to-walk ratio over his previous five starts.