O’s outfielder Cordova to have elbow surgery

Baltimore — Orioles outfielder Marty Cordova will undergo ligament reconstruction surgery on his right elbow next week, ending a frustrating season in which he played only nine games.

Cordova started for Baltimore on opening day, but soon experienced elbow problems and was placed on the disabled list April 23. The next day he underwent arthroscopic surgery to have bone chips removed from his throwing arm.

The procedure and ensuing rehabilitation program failed to fully restore motion in the elbow, leaving him no choice but to have “Tommy John” surgery.

“It’s something that needed to be done. We tried to avoid it with rehab, but it just wasn’t working,” Orioles manager Mike Hargrove said. “I think this was the only way to go.”

White Sox trade for Reds reliever

Chicago — The Chicago White Sox acquired reliever Scott Sullivan and cash from the Cincinnati Reds for a player to be named in a deal Thursday night between teams that have been exceptionally busy in the trade market.

Sullivan was 6-0 with a 3.62 ERA with the Reds in 50 relief appearances this season. The right-hander struck out 43 in 49 2/3 innings.

Sullivan left a team that began the day 13 games under .500 and joined a club in the thick of the American League Central race.

“It will give us a different look and help keep hitters off-balance,” White Sox general manager Ken Williams said. “We were fortunate today to acquire someone that we think can help us in a grand fashion down in the bullpen.”

Sullivan was activated from the disabled list Aug. 7. He’d been out since July 18 because of tendinitis in his right shoulder. Sullivan was 37-24 with a 3.91 ERA in 494 appearances in nine seasons with the Reds.

Ex-broadcaster Coleman dies at age of 78

Boston — Ken Coleman, the broadcaster whose resonant voice carried Boston Red Sox fans through some of their greatest victories and biggest disappointments, died Thursday. He was 78.

Coleman died at Jordan Hospital in Plymouth, Mass., where he was being treated for complications from bacterial meningitis, according to his son, William Coleman.

Coleman, a Red Sox broadcaster for 20 years, called the team’s heartbreaking loss in the 1986 World Series, when a grounder rolled through first baseman Bill Buckner’s legs. He was also with Boston through the “Impossible Dream” season in 1967, when the Red Sox made an improbable World Series run before losing to St. Louis.

Braves catcher Lopez to miss two games

San Francisco — All-Star catcher Javy Lopez expects to miss the Atlanta Braves’ next two games because of a bruised left leg. Lopez fouled a ball off the lower part of his shin in the eighth inning of the Braves’ 2-1 loss to the San Francisco Giants Wednesday night.

With his leg heavily wrapped before Thursday’s game, he was scratched from Atlanta’s lineup.

“Today, it’s not good,” Lopez said. “It’s kind of swollen, but it should be OK by Saturday. It hurt like crazy, but I knew it wasn’t broken.”

Lopez has matched his career high this season with 34 homers while hitting .321 with 84 RBIs. His big numbers have been a big factor in the Braves’ powerful offense, which leads the majors in several categories.

Illness forces Martinez to miss scheduled start

Boston — Red Sox ace Pedro Martinez missed his scheduled start Thursday against the Oakland Athletics because of a sore throat and fever.

Martinez went to St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center for testing, Red Sox spokesman Kevin Shea said. He was diagnosed with severe pharyngitis — inflammation of the throat — and given medication for both the fever and the sore throat, Shea said. Martinez was home resting by late afternoon.

The team was awaiting further test results from team physician Dr. Bill Morgan. It was not immediately clear when Martinez will be available to pitch again.

Astros add Vizcaino, demote Bruntlett

Houston — The Astros activated infielder Jose Vizcaino from the disabled list Thursday, nearly two months after he broke his left arm. Vizcaino broke a bone in his forearm when struck by a pitch from Arizona reliever Stephen Randolph. Vizcaino, who had a .245 average in 62 games, missed 49 games. To make room on the roster, the Astros optioned infielder Eric Bruntlett to Triple-A New Orleans. In 26 games with Houston, Bruntlett hit .255 with one home run and four RBIs.

Tendinitis in hip sidelines Mulder

Boston — The Oakland Athletics placed left-hander Mark Mulder on the 15-day disabled list Thursday because of tendinitis in his right hip.

The A’s, who lead the AL wild-card race, made the move retroactive to Wednesday.

Mulder left Tuesday’s game in Boston after just two innings. He traveled the next day to Arizona to see a physical therapist, the same person who saw him through back problems a few years ago.

Mulder’s injury is not considered serious and he is not expected to miss more than the time on the DL, team spokesman Mike Selleck said.

Mulder is 15-9 with a 3.13 ERA in 26 starts this season. He was replaced on the roster by right-hander Mike Wood.