Sore Beltran expects to return Sunday

CHICAGO -- Carlos Beltran was initially scheduled to be in the lineup on Saturday night against the White Sox, but manager Joe Girardi said he left the outfielder on the bench because of a sore left foot.

Beltran fouled a ball off his left foot in the Yankees' 13-6 victory at U.S. Cellular Field on Friday. Girardi said that his hope is that Beltran will be ready to start in Sunday's series finale.

"His foot was sore. I could have used him if I felt that I needed him, but I didn't," Girardi said after New York's 8-2 loss. "He woke up this morning and I guess where he hit the ball off his foot, last night, was sore. He left last night and my plans were to play him today but he woke up sore today so I didn't play him."

Beltran said that he also fouled a ball off the same foot on Thursday at Texas, but expects to play on Sunday. Girardi said that X-rays were not necessary.

The 38-year-old Beltran is batting .261 with eight homers and 33 RBIs in 76 games.