Cabrera, Benson back in rotation  —  TORONTO // As expected, Orioles manager Sam Perlozzo announced yesterday that Daniel Cabrera will start today's game against the Toronto Blue Jays.  —  It will be the 25-year-old's first start since July 13 against Texas, a game in which he gave up four earned runs in 5 1/3 innings.

Owner, manager boil, but don't overheat  —  A bizarre clash of egos ended with a truce, but not before the Marlins almost lost the best young manager in baseball.  —  Heated words on a super-heated summer Sunday took owner Jeffrey Loria and manager Joe Girardi to the brink, but they found a way to calm down and shake hands.

Notes: Asst. GM high on additions  —  Rizzo originally drafted Chico, Mock; no damage in Hill's elbow  —  WASHINGTON — Assistant general manger Mike Rizzo was pleased that the Nationals were able to acquire left-hander Matt Chico and right-hander Garrett Mock from the Diamondbacks for right-hander Livan Hernandez on Monday.

Detroit 9, Twins 3  —  DETROIT - The Comerica Park scoreboard didn't explain half of the Twins' horror after Monday night's 9-3 defeat to the Detroit Tigers.  —  Francisco Liriano, Minnesota's rookie All-Star, is out indefinitely with what appears to be a left elbow injury.

Beltrán No Longer Just a Shadow of Himself  —  The children sitting in a classroom at Harlem RBI headquarters yesterday afternoon knew the basics about their special guest, Carlos Beltrán.  They all professed to like the Mets more than the Yankees, and they said that center field was their favorite position.

Cardinals pummel Reds with longball, increase lead in NL Central  —  CBS SportsLine.com wire reports  —  CINCINNATI — Maybe it was only one good night for the St. Louis Cardinals, who didn't want to read too much into their most lopsided victory of the season.  —  The scoreboard suggested otherwise.

Matsui Hopes To Be Cleared  —  CHICAGO — Hideki Matsui will be examined again by doctors in Tampa, Fla., Friday, when he hopes to be cleared for batting practice.  —  "I'm really not frustrated or tired of the situation," Matsui told reporters in Tampa Monday.  "There's really not much you can do about it.

Digging Beyond Statistics in Order to Figure Abreu  —  Bobby Abreu was 18 years old, four levels from the majors, in the summer of 1992.  He was the right fielder for the Asheville Tourists of the South Atlantic League, just another prospect in the Houston Astros' farm system.

Time to tip our caps to the Yankees  —  They've been credited with ruining baseball, but have no direct affiliation with Bud Selig, Scott Boras, Victor Conte or Chris Berman.  —  They're the alleged architects of a lopsided playing field, but have failed to win the World Series since Al Gore finally realized …

Piazza emotional on eve of return to New York  —  SAN DIEGO — His eyes were filled with tears when he departed Shea Stadium, and 10 months later, Mike Piazza fears the same emotion could overwhelm him again tonight in his return.  —  The standing ovations, the curtain calls, the video tribute.

Fans at Fenway Face Test of Faith  —  THE Boston Red Sox are a poor excuse for a good baseball team.  For the second year in a row, they have squandered an advantage they had over the Yankees, this year even more grievously than last.  Like last year, they will very likely pay for their profligacy.

Wilson brings utility power  —  A home run hit into an inflatable glove that his old minor-league club had beyond the right-field fence as part of a promotion once earned Craig Wilson a surprise bonus of $300.  —  While Wilson, one of the three players the Yankees got at the trading deadline …

1. Adam Miller, rhp, Indians (Double-A Akron) … IN THE TEAM PHOTO … THE NOT-SO-HOT SHEET … BLAST FROM THE PAST … HELIUM WATCH