Jeremy Hellickson (right forearm cramp) exits game early vs. Nationals Sunday

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Jeremy Hellickson was cruising against the Nationals Sunday afternoon when a right forearm cramp cut his day short.

Hellickson allowed just one hit over five shutout innings and left with a 3-0 lead. He grounded out to first base in the bottom of the fifth, came out to warm up in the top of the sixth and then exited as the Phillies' training staff examined a finger.

It was Hellickson's second straight solid outing, but also the second straight time he's lasted only five innings. Last week in Cincinnati, Hellickson hit an RBI triple that winded him for quite a while and helped lead to an early exit.

"I'm never doing that again," Hellickson said of taking three bases. "I'm stopping at second no matter what."

Two starts into his second season, Hellickson has allowed just one run on seven hits in 10 innings with two walks and three strikeouts. Joaquin Benoit relieved him in the sixth.

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