Notebook: Griffey out for season
Ken Griffey Jr. will miss the rest of the season because of a strained groin, the latest in a string of injuries to Cincinnati’s All-Star outfielder.
Griffey left Wednesday night’s game against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field in the eighth inning after injuring himself while fielding a ball in right field. As he started to make a throw, Griffey stopped in pain and had to underhand the ball back to the infield before falling to the ground.
The Reds originally announced the injury as a strained lower abdomen, and Griffey returned to Cincinnati to be examined. On Thursday, the team said he was diagnosed with a high groin strain and will be examined again in four weeks.
“He’s done,” said manager Pete Mackanin. “It’s a season-ending injury, but it could have been worse. It’s not the worst-case scenario, so we’re happy about that.”
Griffey hit .277 this year with 30 homers and 93 RBIs, playing 144 games – his highest total since 2000.
Wells’ season ends
Blue Jays center fielder Vernon Wells will have season-ending surgery Tuesday for a cyst and torn labrum in his left shoulder.
Wells hit .245 with 16 homers and 80 RBIs this year.
Payton suspended
Baltimore’s Jay Payton was suspended two games by Major League Baseball for throwing his bat and helmet after he was ejected for arguing with plate umpire Mike Reilly following a strikeout Wednesday in the Orioles’ game against the New York Yankees.
Payton was also ejected on Monday night.
Clearing the bases
St. Louis outfielder Chris Duncan underwent surgery to repair a sports hernia and will miss the rest of the season. The team said Duncan’s rehab should take about 10 weeks. … The Braves’ fading playoff hopes were dealt another blow when MLB handed closer Rafael Soriano a four-game suspension for hitting Florida’s Dan Uggla with a pitch during Atlanta’s 11-6 win over the Marlins on Monday night. Soriano denied throwing at Uggla intentionally and planned to appeal. … Ed Wade was hired as general manager of the Houston Astros, two years after the Philadelphia Phillies fired him as GM following eight seasons without a playoff appearance. … Texas starting pitcher Vicente Padilla dropped the appeal of his seven-game suspension and started serving it in the Rangers’ game against Baltimore. Padilla was suspended Tuesday for intentionally throwing at Oakland’s Nick Swisher during Sunday’s game in Oakland. … The Cincinnati Reds’ protest of their 7-6 loss at the Chicago Cubs this week was denied by Bob DuPuy, baseball’s chief operating officer. Chicago rallied in the ninth inning to win Monday night, and the Reds claimed Chicago manager Lou Piniella made a double switch against the rules in the sixth inning because he did not inform the plate umpire before crossing the foul line.