HE'S A YANKEE DOODLE RANDY  —  A-ROD HITS A STRIP JOINT WITH TORONTO BABE  —  Yankees superstar Alex Rodriguez stepped up to the plate with a mysterious, busty blonde in Toronto, as these intimate, exclusive photos reveal.  —  The cozy duo dined with two pals at a pricey steakhouse late Sunday night …

Everything they touch turns to gold  —  Josh Beckett is back, a 4-2 winner over the Tribe last night.  The Red Sox have won five in a row, lead the Yankees by 14 1/2 games, and own the best record in baseball.  And the reeling Yanks are afraid to pitch Roger Clemens in Fenway Park this weekend.

Santana has another fine homecoming  —  Angels right-hander, who has struggled on the road, works seven solid innings; Hillenbrand homers.  —  Home must be where Ervin Santana's heart is, because the right-hander sure seems to pitch with more courage and confidence and aggressiveness in Angel Stadium than he does on the road.

Delgado delivers wild walk-off win  —  Slugger's second home run caps two-run rally in 12th inning  —  NEW YORK — Moments like these plunge Carlos Delgado deep into reverie, back to the days of boyhood dreams and Little League fantasies.  After all, every ballplayer with a pulse dreams of being the hero …

Notes: Abercrombie bringing 'A' game  —  Results not there for Tankersley; Miller thrown right into fray  —  CHICAGO — Gradually, Reggie Abercrombie is showing glimpses of what he is capable of doing.  —  In the Marlins' 5-3 win over the Cubs on Monday, the speedy center fielder reached on a bunt attempt for a hit.

Pirates Notebook: Young not restless about lost no-no  —  Jason Bay is greeted by his teammates as he enters the dugout after hitting a solo home run against the Padres in the sixth inning last night at PNC Park.  —  Who says the Pirates received zero return for their $10.7 million investment …

Ozzie rules out another 'White Flag Trade'  —  Guillen admits there's some pressure to make postseason run this year  —  MINNEAPOLIS — There will be no ''White Flag Trade'' this year.  —  Not as far as White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen is concerned, anyway.

CUT-BLOAT BIZ  —  START INVESTING IN TOMORROW INSTEAD OF BUYING FOR TODAY  —  STOP talking about Todd Helton and Richie Sexson now.  Those are not solutions for the Yankees.  That is the cancer.  —  That is the reason why they are in this horrible state: Their unquenchable habit …

If the Plan Pans Out, the Nats' Future Could Be Wow  —  This season, the Nats wanted an answer to a huge question: Beyond a few key young veterans, who among the players the team already controls could be core elements of a contender in 2010?  A show of hands, please.  Anybody?

At last, Rockies no longer in last place after 8-3 win  —  Seven-game streak puts Rockies ahead of Giants  —  Box score  —  What is so noticeable about the Rockies' recent success is there's nothing noticeable about it - except the results.  —  No hitter is on an explosive stretch where he is carrying the team.

BUD'S DECISION ON GIAMBI EXPECTED  —  While Jason Giambi awaits Commissioner Bud Selig's reaction to Giambi's recent steroid comments, the Yankees' DH may have a bigger problem than a bone spur near his left heel.  —  Giambi could be facing a more serious tendon injury.

Gordon was hurt more than he let on  —  REPORTER: "When was the last time you really felt very healthy?"  —  Tom Gordon: "Last year, I'd probably say, June, July, I felt a lot better . . . But I exercised and rehabbed all offseason, and I had a point where I actually was starting to feel a lot better.

Broken foot lands Mets' Green on DL  —  Move is retroactive to Saturday; outfielder can return June 10  —  NEW YORK — There's a first time for everything — good and bad.  —  The bad reared its ugly head on Tuesday, when the Mets placed outfielder Shawn Green on the disabled list for the first time in his 15-year career.