Peavy inches toward return

White Sox pitcher Jake Peavy's ankle felt fine, but he was not happy with his second injury rehabilitation start.

Peavy allowed three earned runs in four innings Tuesday night for Triple-A Charlotte. He threw 67 pitches as he continues to build arm strength after going on the disabled list in early June with a strained tendon in his right ankle.

"The ankle is the least of my worries," Peavy told reporters in Durham, N.C., after his start. "The ankle felt good. ... I'm a long way from where I'm used to being. Think about it from where I am. My body feels like it's January."

Peavy likely will need at least one more start in the minor leagues before he is ready to join the Sox, which could happen as soon as Aug. 28 against the Yankees.

"As the game went along, I tried to put some more effort and intensity into it," Peavy told reporters. "I just wasn't able to get to where I'm used to being. The command and velocity were not where they're going to be."

Although Peavy is eager to join the Sox pennant chase, he does not want to jeopardize himself or the team by rushing his return.

"As bad as I want to be on a big league field helping the team win, you have to understand where you are physically," he said. "Right now, I don't believe I could take the field and throw seven [innings]."

-Tom Musick