BOSTON (AP) — Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia returned to the disabled list Friday with soreness in the foot he broke in late June, a difficult blow for Boston as it tries to reach the postseason.

Pedroia spent seven weeks on the DL after he fouled a ball off his left foot on June 25 at San Francisco. He played in two minor league rehab games last weekend, showing no signs of problems.

But the 2008 AL MVP experienced significant pain after going 1 for 3 in Boston’s 7-5 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday and was scratched from Thursday’s lineup.

“Today it’s hurting when I walk,” Pedroia said before Friday night’s game against Toronto. “So I guess the best thing to do is not do anything and let it heal.

“After the second day it was pretty much impossible to keep playing. I have to let it heal. It’s not fun.”

Pedroia said he wasn’t sure if the latest setback would end his season.

“I don’t know,” he said. “I’ve seen so many doctors I’m kind of seeing everybody. I hope not.”

The Red Sox trailed the AL East-leading Yankees by 6½ games and were 5½ back of Tampa Bay in the wild-card race before Friday’s games. Infielder Yamaico Navarro was promoted from Triple-A Pawtucket to take Pedroia’s spot on the roster.

Pedroia was urged to be upfront with the Red Sox and team medical director Thomas Gill while his left foot is recovering.

“He woke up and he was pretty tender so we sent him over to see Tom to have a scan,” Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. “And while it showed really good healing, it also showed there’s some healing to go.

“In layman’s terms, they tried to impress upon him a lot that if it hurt, you better tell us because you’re then you’re going to hurt yourself.

“We appreciate him trying to play because he’s really good. At the same time, and I know it’s hard for good players to be honest, but if he goes out there and hurts it, then we’re looking at something we don’t want to look at, and that’s a surgery and things like that so that’s sort of where we are.”

Pedroia and Francona said there was no additional damage found with the injury.

“I knew it was going to be chance if I came back at played and it didn’t do well I would be out,” Pedroia said. “I knew that. They told me that. It just sucked that it happened.”

I figured I would play a couple days and if I would be sore I would have a day of two off and be fine. But that’s really not the way it’s working out right now.”

Pedroia said he understands the reason for the cautious approach going forward, considering what could happen if the bone that’s healing now breaks.

“Whenever they clear me, I’m going to go,” Pedroia said. “Since it was getting worse, risk comes back. If a break happens, it’s a big surgery. I have to make sure I’m OK.”