Kershaw, Dodgers cool off Brewers

Clayton Kershaw throttled the streaking Brewers with eight scoreless innings and Rod Barajas homered Thursday, leading the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 5-1 win over Milwaukee.

The NL Central-leading Brewers came in winners of 19 of 21 and were looking to complete a 7-0 homestand.

But Kershaw (15-5) was tremendous, retiring 13 of his final 14 batters and never facing serious trouble after the third inning. He also drove in a run with a bunt single.

Barajas hit a solo homer in the second. Los Angeles built a 5-0 lead by scoring twice each in the seventh and eighth, the first runs allowed by the Brewers' bullpen in 10 games.

Milwaukee is 6 1/2 games ahead of idle St. Louis.

Kershaw scattered five hits and struck out six. He has fanned an NL-best 199 this season.

Red Sox put Youkilis on DL

Boston placed third baseman Kevin Youkilis on the disabled list because of a back injury and called up catching prospect Ryan Lavarnway from Triple-A Pawtucket.

Red Sox manager Terry Francona announced the moves before Thursday night's opener of a four-game series against the Royals in Kansas City. Lavarnway, 24, was scheduled to make his major league debut as the designated hitter, batting seventh.

Youkilis, who is hitting .266 with 17 homers and 78 RBIs, has missed several games recently because of what Francona called "a back strain or sprain." Victorino's ban reduced

Phillies centerfielder Shane Victorino's suspension for his part in a benches-clearing brawl at San Francisco on Aug. 5 has been reduced and he will miss two games.

Victorino appealed the original suspension of three games, and he wasn't in Philadelphia's lineup against Arizona and won't play at Washington Friday night . . . The Kansas City Royals announced outfielder Jeff Francoeur signed a two-year contract extension through 2013.

-- AP