Red Sox left-hander Connelly Early’s pitch count was at 61 after four innings, but lefty reliever Danny Coulombe was already warming in Fenway Park’s home bullpen.
After a lengthy on-field melee in which first baseman Willson Contreras, outfielder Nate Eaton, interim manager Chad Tracy and Nationals pitcher Miles Mikolas were ejected, Coulombe took the mound for the top of the fifth.
The Red Sox announced their rookie starter exited with “left elbow discomfort” as the top of the sixth ended.
Early, 24, owns a 3.44 ERA over 17 starts this season, with 93 strikeouts over 91 2/3 innings.
This story will be updated.