Red Sox place Youkilis on DL  —  Boston Red Sox third baseman Kevin Youkilis was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a back injury.  —  Youkilis has been hampered by discomfort in his lower back and will take a couple weeks to rest.  The All-Star has just four hits in his last 32 at-bats with one homer and two RBI.

Torre on home run call: “He just missed it”  —  Major League Baseball acknowledged that umpires muffed the home run call in the Yankees' 5-4 loss to the Royals Wednesday night, but given that Joe Girardi opted not to file a protest, there's nothing that can be done about it.

Mets Won't Trade Izzy, Byrdak, Hairston  —  Relievers Jason Isringhausen and Tim Byrdak, and outfielder Scott Hairston will remain with the Mets for season's balance, a source tells Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com.  The players were placed on waivers, claimed and pulled back by the Mets …

Former Met Is First Player To Test Positive For H.G.H.  —  Mike Jacobs, a first baseman in the Colorado Rockies' organization who has played more than 500 games in the major leagues, including dozens with the Mets, is the first professional baseball player to test positive for human growth hormone, a banned performance-enhancing drug.

MLBPA files grievance on behalf of Zambrano  —  Players Union seeks lesser penalty for Cubs starter on DQ'd list  —  CHICAGO — The Major League Baseball Players Association has filed a grievance on behalf of Carlos Zambrano, who was placed on the disqualified list after he cleaned …

Young remains heart and soul of Rangers  —  ANAHEIM, Calif. - Of the elements that comprise these Texas Rangers, who are running hot again, the most critical of them might also be the most unassuming.  —  The least combustible, unless provoked.  —  And the most professional, without question.

Royals Sign Francoeur To Two-Year Extension  —  12:36pm: The two-year deal is worth $13.5MM, according to Bob Dutton of the Kansas City (via Twitter).  —  10:18am: The Royals have signed outfielder Jeff Francoeur to a two-year extension, according to Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com (via Twitter).

David Wright homers, Dillon Gee gets 11th win vs. Padres, but Jason Bay says dugout has ‘lull’ feel  —  SAN DIEGO - Quiet teammates, lost in thought, drifting from the game.  Scanning the dugout during Tuesday night's loss to San Diego, Jason Bay finally saw it: dead energy.

Pirates' Tabata yearns to honor Clemente  —  If only for one game, Jose Tabata would like to play right field at PNC Park wearing No. 21 on the back of his Pirates jersey.  —  “That's my dream,” Tabata said Wednesday.  —  No Pirates player has worn 21 since Hall of Fame right fielder Roberto Clemente.

No Matter The Slots, Teams Spent Freely In 2011  —  Like a chemically enhanced Barry Bonds, major league teams crushed record after record at the Aug. 15 deadline for signing 2011 draft picks.  —  With teams swinging for the fences in their quest to mine one of the most talented drafts in recent memory …

Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers end Brewers' 5-game win streak  —  MILWAUKEE — 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 …

Mets notes: Jose Reyes ready to go  —  The Mets' plan was to proceed carefully with Jose Reyes, and every time manager Terry Collins was asked about a return date for his energetic shortstop, he mentioned a longer stay on the disabled list.  —  But with the return date now just five days away …

Matt Cain goes 8 strong innings, Giants beat Braves 7-5  —  ATLANTA - Matt Cain snapped his three-game losing streak with five-hit ball over eight innings, and the San Francisco Giants barely avoided another loss to Atlanta in the final at-bat, holding on for a 7-5 victory over the Braves on Wednesday night.