BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : Langston Set to Pitch Friday

Left-hander Mark Langston was cleared to start Friday’s game against the Baltimore Orioles by Dr. Lewis Yocum.

Langston underwent surgery to repair cartilage in his right knee May 8 and was expected to be sidelined six to eight weeks. Instead, he will return after a 23-day absence.

Reliever Mark Eichhorn, on the disabled list because of shoulder tendinitis, could be activated for the weekend series against Baltimore.

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Center fielder Jim Edmonds missed his second consecutive start because of a strained stomach muscle. “He’s better,” trainer Rick Smith said. Rex Hudler led off and played center for the second game in a row.

He was injured Saturday night while chasing after a home run by Boston’s Mo Vaughn.

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Left-handed hitters are batting .200 (four for 20) against left-handed middle reliever Chuck McElroy, acquired Monday from Cincinnati for Lee Smith. Right-handers are batting .310 (nine for 29) against him. . . . Catcher Don Slaught was replaced by Jorge Fabregas after suffering a bruised left thigh when Bernie Williams collided with him in a third-inning play at the plate. . . . Yankee rookie outfielder Ruben Rivera started his fifth consecutive game in place of Tim Raines, who is on the disabled list because of a strained right hamstring.