CAROLINA, Puerto Rico (AP) – Boston Red Sox reliever Julian Tavarez mildly sprained his right ankle while pitching for the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean Series.

Tavarez hobbled off the field Monday after trying to field an infield chopper in the fifth inning of a 7-1 win over Venezuela.

Dominican pitching coach Juan Jimenez said Tavarez was all right and that the injury did not require X-rays. The righty will not pitch again in the series, which ends Wednesday.

“Tavarez is fine, it was just a mild sprain,” Jimenez said.

Tavarez allowed one run and three hits and struck out six in 5 1-3 innings.

“He got nicked in the ankle,” Red Sox manager Terry Francona said Tuesday.

AP-ES-02-06-07 1638EST