Remlinger Done With Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox designated left-hander Mike Remlinger for assignment Sunday, 19 days after obtaining him, and recalled left-hander Abe Alvarez from triple-A Pawtucket.

Remlinger had a 14.85 earned-run average and no record in eight relief appearances since being acquired from the Chicago Cubs for minor league pitcher Olivo Astacio. Remlinger, 39, also has played for San Francisco, the New York Mets, Cincinnati and Atlanta.

Meanwhile, Red Sox closer Keith Foulke (knee) made his second rehabilitation appearance at Class-A Lowell (Mass.), giving up a run in one inning. Foulke threw 21 pitches, 12 for strikes, and struck out one of the five batters he faced.

*

Sammy Sosa was placed on the 15-day disabled list by the Baltimore Orioles, who decided against taking a wait-and-see stance on the toe injury that has sidelined the slumping slugger since Thursday.

Sosa had a lesion removed from underneath the nail of his right big toe on Friday. It’s similar to an injury that forced him out of action in 2003, when he was with the Chicago Cubs.

Sosa is batting .221 after going five for 50 over his last 14 games. He hasn’t driven in a run in 12 games, his longest such run since a 23-game stretch in 1992.