Red Sox manager Terry Francona is "hopeful" Jacoby Ellsbury will play Friday after he left Thursday night's Red Sox loss with a mild left high-ankle sprain after the fifth inning.

"I don't think it's anything serious," Francona said. "We're certainly going to check with him tomorrow. I don't think it will be anything more than a nagging thing, and I'm glad we took him out. Got some ice on it, got it treated, and I'm hopeful that it'll be fine."

Ellsbury was hurt when he slid into Chicago White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski's shin guard at home plate to end the fifth inning.