Wood leaves game in 3rd

NOTES

A stiff shoulder forced Chicago Cubs starter Kerry Wood out after the third inning of a game against the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday night.

Wood gave up three solo homers and four hits overall, throwing 66 pitches before he was replaced.

He has been bothered by a sore shoulder since spring training, when bursitis limited him to three starts. He went on the disabled list May 3 with a shoulder strain, and wasn’t activated until June 29.

The right-hander had trouble keeping his pitches down in his fifth start since coming off the disabled list. He gave up a solo homer in the first inning to Felipe Lopez, one in the second to Adam Dunn and another in the third to Ken Griffey Jr.

Move a surprise to Torre

In a move that surprised Yankees manager Joe Torre, New York optioned left-hander Wayne Franklin to Triple-A Columbus and purchased the contract of left-hander Alex Graman.

Torre was informed of the move in a telephone call from general manager Brian Cashman, who wasn’t with the team in Texas.

“He says we’re going to make the switch, and that’s what we did,” Torre said.

“I have a great deal of respect for Brian. When he called and said that this is what we’re going, that’s what we’re doing. … I work for people like everybody else.”

Clearing the bases

The Washington Nationals designated infielder Wil Cordero for assignment and claimed outfielder Kenny Kelly off waivers from the Cincinnati Reds. … Former Washington State pitcher Mark Hendrickson became the first starter in Tampa Bay Devil Rays history to fail to record an out due to performance. Hendrickson threw 30 pitches and gave up six runs on four hits in a 9-4 loss to Boston.