NEW YORK • Oscar Taveras' first start of the season in center field for Class AAA Memphis ended when he got to first base in the seventh inning Monday night.

Taveras struck a base hit late in the Redbirds' 7-4 victory at AutoZone Park, but he twisted his left ankle as he tried to break from the box. Taveras was met by a trainer at first base and removed from the game for a pinch-runner.

The Cardinals are apt to play this cautiously with Taveras.

General manager John Mozeliak, who was in attendance at the game in Memphis, described Taveras as "day to day." He said the outfielder would not start today's early game at AutoZone Park because of the quick turnaround and the team's insistence on being "precautionary."

Taveras was limited to 46 games at Memphis last season because of a high ankle sprain that would eventually require surgery.

That injury was to his right ankle.

His chances of making the major-league team out of spring training were erased by his recovery from that surgery. It took him several weeks of spring training to regain the trust in the joint.