Griffey out for season with torn hamstring

Ken Griffey Jr. will miss the rest of the season because of a torn right hamstring, the latest setback in a long line of injuries for the All-Star outfielder.

Griffey will have surgery Monday, the Cincinnati Reds said. Team medical director Dr. Timothy Kremchek said Wednesday that an MRI exam showed that Griffey had ruptured his hamstring last week in San Francisco.

Griffey had not played since injuring himself last Wednesday, but said before the Reds’ game against Los Angeles that he was available to pinch-hit.

In recent years, Griffey has been plagued by injuries.

Griffey missed more than a month with a torn hamstring that bothered him throughout the 2001 season. He then spent two long stints on the 15-day disabled list with a torn knee tendon and a torn right hamstring in 2002.

Griffey went on the DL twice again last year for a dislocated right shoulder and torn ankle tendon.

Griffey was batting .253 with 20 homers and 60 RBIs.

Mets place Piazza on disabled list

Mike Piazza was placed on the 15-day disabled list because of inflammation in his left knee, leaving the New York Mets without their best hitter as they try to stay on the edge of the N.L. playoff race.

The move was made retroactive to Aug. 7. Piazza had an MRI exam Tuesday and received a shot in his knee. He said it probably will need to be drained.

The 11-time All-Star is batting .276 with 17 homers and 44 RBIs this season, but has slumped badly since the end of June.

Clearing the bases

Philadelphia right-hander Kevin Millwood expects to recover from elbow injuries and return to pitch for the Phillies this year. Millwood is out indefinitely because of a sprained ligament and a strained tendon in his pitching elbow. … The Colorado Rockies acquired minor league left-handers Luis Martinez and Chris Naveson from St. Louis on Wednesday as part of the deal that sent Larry Walker to the Cardinals last week.