BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT

Rob Dibble’s return to the mound was exciting and encouraging to the recovering reliever, but painful to one of the Cincinnati coaches who batted against him.

Dibble threw batting practice to coaches Joel Youngblood and Ray Knight and draft choice Aaron Boone before Saturday night’s game against Colorado. It was the first time he had faced batters since surgery in April to repair torn cartilage and damage from small tears in the rotator cuff.

He threw 35 pitches, including one that nailed Youngblood in the leg. Dibble interpreted it as a good sign.

“That’s how I usually start spring training--drilling guys,” Dibble said. “He didn’t even move. He was trying to get a base on me.”

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Milwaukee Manager Phil Garner said he’s sticking with Teddy Higuera for today’s start against Cleveland and that the struggling left-hander shouldn’t feel any pressure to keep his spot in the rotation or even his job.

“It’s a start just like any other start,” Garner said. “There’s no reason to put his head in a guillotine.”

Higuera has given up 18 earned runs in 8 1/3 innings in his last three starts for a 19.45 earned-run average. Overall, he’s 1-4 with a 7.19 ERA.

Higuera is still trying to bounce back from rotator cuff surgery in 1991 and he insists he’s fine physically. The Brewers say he hasn’t lost any zip on his fastball, which has been clocked in the mid-80s since spring training.

Garner is counting on Higuera being able to turn things around against the Indians, who are 4-12 against left-handed starters. Higuera’s best start came against Cleveland on May 19, when he gave up two earned runs in eight innings.

The Brewers also are unlikely to release Higuera because they would have to pay his full $3-million salary, a portion of which they could save if the players go on strike later this season.