Baseball notebook: Skipper Houk dies at 90

Ralph Houk, who guided the powerhouse New York Yankees of the early 1960s to two World Series championships during his 20 years as a big league manager, died Wednesday. He was 90.

Houk also skippered the Detroit Tigers and the Boston Red Sox in a managerial career that spanned three decades.

Red Sox spokesman Dick Bresciani said Houk’s grandson, Scott Slaboden, told the team Houk died at his home in Winter Haven, Fla. Slaboden wrote in an e-mail to the team that Houk “died peacefully of natural causes after having a brief illness.”

Houk spent parts of eight seasons as a backup catcher for New York, appearing in just 91 games.

Houk managed 3,157 games and won 1,619 with a winning percentage of .514. He followed Casey Stengel as Yankees manager in 1961 and won the World Series in 1961 and 1962. He was George Steinbrenner’s first manager for New York in 1973. He resigned after one year working for the Boss and moved on to Detroit.

Houk managed the Tigers from 1974-78. His final stint in the dugout came with Boston from 1981-84.

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw, manager Joe Torre and bench coach Bob Schaefer have been suspended as a result of incidents in the team’s loss to the San Francisco Giants.

Kershaw was handed a five-game suspension for intentionally throwing at the Giants’ Aaron Rowand in the seventh inning of Tuesday’s game, which the Dodgers lost 7-5. Kershaw has appealed.

Torre received a one-game suspension for Kershaw’s actions and served his suspension Wednesday night.

Schaefer also got a one-game suspension for his actions, which included coming onto the field in the sixth. He will serve his suspension tonight.

All three were ejected during the game.

Clearing the bases

Nate McLouth is back with the Braves after missing 33 games with a head injury. Meanwhile, third baseman Chipper Jones is returning after missing three starts with a mild left hamstring strain. … Padres second baseman David Eckstein has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with a right calf strain. … Anthony Lerew is not expected to make his next start for the Royals after bruising his ribs and biceps after being struck by a line drive Tuesday. … The Marlins designated left-hander Nate Robertson for assignment.