Griffey sidelined for rest of the 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 at the Chicago Cubs 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.

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. Wade, 51, worked in public relations for the Astros early in a career that began in 1977.

Atlanta Braves closer Rafael Soriano received a four-game suspension from Major League Baseball for hitting Florida’s Dan Uggla with a pitch. . . . Milwaukee ace Ben Sheets is questionable for his next start Sunday because of an injured left hamstring. . . . Toronto Blue Jays center fielder Vernon Wells will have season-ending surgery Tuesday for a cyst and torn labrum in his left shoulder. . . . Texas Rangers pitcher Vicente Padilla dropped the appeal of his seven-game suspension and started serving it Thursday. . . . St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Chris Duncan underwent surgery to repair a sports hernia and will miss the rest of the season. . . . Baltimore’s Jay Payton was suspended two games by MLB for throwing his bat and helmet after he was ejected for arguing with plate umpire Mike Reilly following a strikeout the previous night. Payton served the first game Thursday.