Griffey Will Rejoin Reds’ Lineup Today

The Cincinnati Reds expect to activate Ken Griffey Jr. off the disabled list today and put him in the lineup against the Atlanta Braves. They cleared a roster spot by optioning shortstop Gookie Dawkins to double-A Chattanooga after an 8-4 loss to Florida on Thursday afternoon.

The outfield has done very well without Griffey but is eager to have him back.

“Pitchers are scared to death of the guy, and they should be,” left fielder Adam Dunn said. “When you’re hitting behind him, you get a lot more opportunities. When you’re hitting ahead of him, you get a lot more opportunities.”

Griffey’s return gives Manager Bob Boone five players for four positions--the three outfield spots and first base. First baseman Sean Casey is hitting .292, and Dunn, Austin Kearns and Juan Encarnacion have carried the offense.

Since Kearns was promoted from the minors on April 17, the three outfielders collectively have hit .297 with 19 homers and 64 runs batted in in 34 games.

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Philadelphia Manager Larry Bowa was suspended for three games and fined an undisclosed amount for last week’s run-in with umpire Tony Randazzo.

Bowa was punished for “arguing excessively and making inappropriate comments” to Randazzo after a disputed call at home plate in the eighth inning of a 12-9 loss at Arizona.

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Arizona outfielder Danny Bautista will undergo surgery on his injured left shoulder and will miss three months.... Former Yankee pitcher David Cone was hired as an analyst for the team’s cable network.... The Yankees purchased the contract of pitcher Mike Thurman from triple-A Columbus.