Injury Forces Griffey to Leave Game

Ken Griffey Jr. strained his right calf while running out a ground ball Monday night and left the Cincinnati Reds’ game as a precaution.

He stayed in the game for one more inning, then jogged off the field accompanied by a trainer.

In each of the last three seasons, the outfielder sustained a major injury in the final week of spring training or the first week of the regular season. Last year, he dislocated his shoulder in the fifth game of the season, returned and tore up his right ankle. He then had surgery for both injuries.

Griffey, 34, hasn’t been hurt this spring, running easily on his surgically repaired ankle. He has struggled at the plate, batting .158.

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New York Yankee All-Star Bernie Williams caught two fly balls in five innings during his first appearance in the outfield since having his appendix removed last month.

“I did a lot of good running out there,” Williams said. “If I’m not very stiff tomorrow, that will be a good thing.”

Williams, who skipped the Yankees’ trip to Japan for season-opening games against the Devil Rays, was the designated hitter in four minor league games last week.

New York won’t decide until next week whether to put Williams, who had the appendectomy Feb. 26, on the disabled list.

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Baseball’s average ticket price increased by nearly 4% this season, and the Boston Red Sox charge the most for the seventh straight season.

The average price of a major league ticket is $19.82, the Chicago-based Team Marketing Report said. That’s up 3.9% from last year’s average of $19.08. The average ticket price at Boston’s Fenway Park, the major leagues’ smallest ballpark, is $40.77.

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The Pittsburgh Pirates released left-handed reliever Mark Guthrie and utilityman Orlando Merced. The Pirates also assigned right-handed reliever Juan Acevedo, the Detroit Tigers’ closer in 2002, outfielder Andy Abad and right-handers Willis Roberts and Mark Corey to triple-A Nashville.... The St. Louis Cardinals traded Kerry Robinson to San Diego for Brian Hunter in a swap of speedy outfielders.... The Houston Astros optioned left-hander Jeriome Robertson, who had a team-high 15 wins last season, and right-hander Kirk Saarloos to triple-A New Orleans. The Astros also reassigned outfielder Ryan Thompson, who was hitting .483 this spring, and infielder Phil Hiatt to their minor league camp.... Texas pitcher Brian Shouse has an inflamed rotator cuff and will start the season on the 15-day disabled list. Also, right fielder Brian Jordan said he wouldn’t play before Wednesday because of a sore left knee.