CLEARWATER, Fla. — Pirates starter Brad Lincoln had a most pleasant exchange with Jimmy Rollins, albeit a very painful one.

The Pittsburgh right-hander was struck in his pitching arm by Rollins’ line drive and forced to leave early with a bruise Friday in the Philadelphia Phillies’ 3-2 victory.

Lincoln, a big part of the Pirates’ future, was hit in the third inning and quickly tracked down the ball near the first-base line. Rollins appeared startled by the accident and slowed down, and Lincoln tapped the Phillies star with his glove for the out.

“He was asking me if I was all right even before I tagged him,” Lincoln said.

The impact of the ball left imprints of the stitches on Lincoln’s skin. The bruise is on the outside of his forearm, just below his elbow.

Lincoln said there was no reason yet to rule out his next start. He’ll be re-evaluated Saturday.

“It’s just tight now from the initial shock of getting hit,” he said. “I’m not overly concerned at this point.”

Lincoln was charged with one run in 2X\c innings Friday.