Donnelly needs surgery

After struggling with a forearm injury that forced him to the disabled list June 17, Brendan Donnelly finally has a course of action to repair his pitching arm. Donnelly will undergo Tommy John surgery on his right elbow Friday or next Tuesday in California. Lewis Yocum, the Angels' team doctor, will perform the surgery.

"It's been going on for several years," the Red Sox reliever said. "But there was really no signs of it breaking down over the last three years until now.

"We tried everything two times to come back. By doing the surgery now, it gives me an opportunity to pitch next year and four or five years down the line as opposed to just fighting through day by day and wondering when the day is going to come that it's just going to fail. That day came."

He said he had known for some time the procedure would have to take place. Ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction takes about a year to 18 months of recovery before a pitcher is ready to throw again, which would make Donnelly doubtful next season.

"He really did try to pitch through this more than most would have in his comeback attempt," general manager Theo Epstein said. "He also knew a couple of days ago that he was going to get Tommy John. He helped the organization, I think, by keeping it quiet until after the trading deadline. We certainly appreciate that and wish him the best in his recovery. We've already expressed that we'd like to work something out in the future so he can rehab with us and make an impact again for the Red Sox."

Reliever Mike Timlin said, "I feel for Brendan. But knowing what kind of person he is, he'll probably be back sooner than you think. There's usually a time limit on those, but knowing his personality day in and day out, he's probably going to move it up a little bit. He may set the record."

Donnelly, who according to an organization source does not have a ligament in his right elbow, arrived from the Angels in December in a trade for lefthander Phil Seibel.

During his brief stint with the Sox, Donnelly pitched in 27 games, going 2-1 with a 3.05 ERA. He signed for one year at $1.4 million to avoid arbitration.

Donnelly said he would be back for a checkup in six weeks -- and again in October to follow the team.

"What [stinks] is that I'm not going to be a part of what's going on here right now, which is something pretty special," Donnelly said.

"I'll be the Red Sox' No. 1 fan, dip in now and then and make sure the guys aren't screwing nothing up, and move on."

Julian Tavarez was named tonight's starter, replacing Kason Gabbard, who was sent to the Rangers in the Eric Gagne trade. Tavarez last started July 18 and has come out of the bullpen three times since being replaced in the rotation by Jon Lester. "That was kind of the plan," manager Terry Francona said. "We just wanted to make sure nothing went haywire tonight." That allows the rest of the starters to pitch on an added day of rest. Francona said Tavarez remains stretched out, so his innings should be based more on his effectiveness than his pitch count . . . David Ortiz had his 28th multihomer game (his 26th with Boston) in the Sox' 5-3 loss to the Orioles. He also tied Jose Canseco for fifth in home runs by designated hitters (208) . . . After giving up just six runs in his previous three starts, Josh Beckett allowed five last night. He has dropped two straight games for the first time this season. Beckett started the season 9-0 with a 2.88 ERA. He has gone 4-5 with a 4.05 ERA in his last nine starts.

Timlin threw a side session and said he is doing well. After not throwing since July 23, his last appearance in a game, Timlin was given a rest for what he called an "achy" shoulder. Francona said Timlin threw 24 pitches and added, "We're pleased. Does it make him available [tonight]? Yeah, he'll be available. The next night would be perfect." . . . Pawtucket outfielder David Murphy, sent to Texas along with Gabbard and Engel Beltre (Gulf Coast Sox) for Gagne, said he will be heading back to Providence from Columbus (where the PawSox played last night) before he joins Texas's Triple A club in Oklahoma. Murphy told the Rangers his wife, Andrea, would be giving birth to a girl Saturday, so Texas told him to take the weekend before reporting. "It's bittersweet," said Murphy, who attended Baylor and went to high school in Spring, Texas. "I've gotten to know all the guys, developed a lot of relationships within the organization. At the same time, I'm from Texas and I'm going home." Murphy said he found out he had been traded when PawSox manager Ron Johnson told him shortly after 4 p.m.

The Red Sox traded righthanded pitcher Joel Piñeiro and cash to the Cardinals for a player to be named. Piñeiro was 1-1 with a 5.03 ERA in 31 relief appearances before being designated for assignment July 23. He accepted an assignment with Pawtucket and had two starts (no record) . . . . . . As Gabbard hugged Ortiz before leaving the clubhouse, Ortiz left him with one piece of advice: "Take it easy on me." . . . Francona reacted to the day's big trade -- the Kevin Garnett deal. "Whew. Is that great?" he said. "I'm fired up. I love him. Don't think that didn't have something to do with that getting done. I'm a big, big fan."

Gordon Edes of the Globe staff contributed to this report.