Baseball notebook: Suspensions handed down

Boston star Kevin Youkilis and Detroit pitcher Rick Porcello were suspended for five games each and fined by Major League Baseball, a day after their brawl at Fenway Park.

Youkilis began his suspension during Wednesday night’s game against Detroit. Porcello appealed, and no penalty will take effect until the process is complete.

MLB vice president Bob Watson cited Youkilis for charging the mound, throwing his helmet at Porcello and inciting Tuesday night’s bench-clearing tussle. Watson penalized Porcello for intentionally throwing pitches at Victor Martinez in the first inning and Youkilis in the second.

In addition, Detroit pitcher Edwin Jackson was fined for what Watson called aggressive actions.

Players from benches and bullpens went onto the field and Youkilis tackled Porcello, but no punches were thrown. Youkilis and Porcello were ejected.

Tempers had been escalating since Monday night, when Miguel Cabrera was hit in the top of the fourth and Youkilis was plunked in the bottom half; Detroit’s Brandon Inge was hit in the eighth.

Zimmermann faces major elbow surgery

Jordan Zimmermann will have reconstructive elbow surgery next week, leaving the Washington Nationals without their top pitching prospect for at least a year.

Manager Jim Riggleman said the normal recovery period is 12 to 18 months, a timetable that could keep the 23-year-old Zimmermann out until the 2011 season.

Acting general manager Mike Rizzo said Zimmermann is “as upbeat as you can be” about the surgery, which will be performed on his right elbow by Dr. Lewis Yocum in California.

Clearing the bases

Houston announced that first baseman Lance Berkman and reliever LaTroy Hawkins were activated off the disabled list. Berkman is hitting .273 with 18 homers and 55 RBIs this season. He had been on the disabled list since July 23 with a strained left calf. Hawkins is 1-4 with a 2.32 ERA. He had been on the DL since July 28 with shingles. … New York Mets first baseman Carlos Delgado’s rehabilitation after hip surgery has been put on hold because of a strained right oblique muscle. … The Mets will cut some ticket prices by 50 percent for 13 of their remaining 26 home games. … After losing 22 of their last 35 games, the Brewers made big changes, sending former All-Star shortstop J.J. Hardy to the minors, cutting third baseman Bill Hall and firing pitching coach Bill Castro.