Griffey, Piniella Took It Lying Down

The Seattle Mariners didn’t need a pep talk before their game Friday, but they could have used an exorcist.

In one corner of the clubhouse was a shivering Ken Griffey Jr. - projectile vomiting. In another was manager Lou Piniella, curled on a small couch in an awkward position because he couldn’t straighten his back enough to stand.

“We’re a mess,” Piniella said. He wasn’t joking.

Griffey, he of the six home runs and the eight-game hitting streak, was nailed by the flu and spent much of Thursday night and Friday morning getting rid of everything he’d ever consumed.

“I get sick, it comes up,” Griffey said.

Before the game, he was covered in towels, massaged and allowed to visit the, um, facilities often. Piniella, on the other hand, needed a chiropractor and got one to make a house call to Fenway Park.

By early evening, Piniella was feeling better and so was Griffey, who missed his first game of the season but promised not to miss a second today.

Notes

Lee Tinsley filled in by playing center field and had two more hits. Since opening the year 0-for-16, Tinsley has gone 8-for-15. … Weird play of the Day: Edgar Martinez was on second base with one out in the ninth inning when Paul Sorrento popped up - and the Red Sox infield let the ball drop right by Martinez, standing on the bag. Umpire John Hirshbeck ruled Sorrento out on the infield fly rule, holding his right hand high and staring at second base. Martinez thought he’d been called out, left the base and was tagged out. … Alvaro Espinoza made his first start, playing second base in place of Brent Gates against left-hander Steve Avery. Why? “We’ve got three second baseman,” Piniella said. “I’ve got to try to get all of them work.”

Coming up

Worried about inclement weather due late in the day, the Red Sox moved today’s Seattle-Boston game up to 9 a.m. (PDT).