BRIEFLY : EXILES PLAN BIG PROTEST.

Byline: Daily News Wire Services

About 75 Cuban exiles boarded two buses Sunday in Miami for a trip to Maryland, where they plan to protest outside the Baltimore Orioles' exhibition game against Cuba tonight.

Those who stepped aboard said they think the game will only benefit Cuban President Fidel Castro.

``He is the beast of the Caribbean,'' said 55-year-old Marta Campos, a member of Unidad Cubana, one of six exile groups that helped organize the journey. ``This is a promotion for him. Not a game. Only a political game.''

The chartered ``La Cubana'' buses were scheduled to meet about two dozen other buses carrying Cuban exiles from Tampa, New Jersey, New York and Washington. The protesters planned to hold their demonstration outside Camden Yards.

Passengers carried aboard the buses both Cuban and American flags, and some sang the Cuban national anthem as they stepped on. Some held banners that read ``CASTRO: NEW MANAGER OF THE ORIOLES.''

Hideo Nomo earned his way back to the major leagues by pitching seven scoreless innings for Double-A Huntsville, Ala. Nomo will be called up by the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday, given a $250,000, one-year contract, and start that night at San Francisco.

FOOTBALL: Wide receiver David Boston, the Arizona Cardinals' top draft pick last month, fractured his left shoulder blade during a minicamp passing drill. Team officials said he should be ready for the start of training camp July 30 in Flagstaff.

Arena Football League official Ed Manning was in critical condition with head injuries in Des Moines, Iowa, after being run into by Iowa's Mike Horacek during a game Saturday night.

SOCCER: Mia Hamm broke an eight-game scoreless drought and reserve forward Danielle Fotopolous added two goals to lead the U.S. women's soccer team to a 7-0 rout of Japan in Clarkston, Ga.