KEN GRIFFEY JR. Ruptured tendon ends season

He was hurt running out a double in the Reds' loss to Houston.
CINCINNATI (AP) -- Ken Griffey Jr. thought he had homered in the sixth straight game in which he had an at-bat. He ended up limping off the field with a season-ending injury.
The 11-time All-Star ruptured a tendon in his right ankle Thursday night, the latest in a string of major injuries for the Cincinnati center fielder.
"Obviously, it's devastating. It's a shame. He's heartbroken," Reds general manager Jim Bowden said. "I talked to Junior earlier, and I told him that we're all praying for him."
Griffey was hurt running out a double after pausing at home plate as if he thought his drive to left field would be a home run.
"He said, as he was rounding first, he felt it pop," Reds trainer Mark Mann said.
He had to speed up and was hurt just after rounding first in the sixth inning of the Reds' 5-4 loss to the Houston Astros. The center fielder was scheduled to have surgery today.
Injury prone
Once thought to be a threat to break Hank Aaron's record of 755 homers, Griffey has dropped from the game's elite because of injuries. He hit .247 with 26 RBIs in 53 games this season.
Griffey had been bothered by a sore tendon for about a week and was getting treatment before games.
"The MRI was very clear. The tendon was torn," Bowden said. "There was no alternative but to surgically repair it."
Injuries to both legs and his right shoulder have caused Griffey to miss 140 games since joining the Reds for the 2000 season, including 33 so far this year.
Griffey also will have surgery in a couple of weeks to repair damage he suffered when he dislocated his right shoulder while trying to make a diving catch on April 5.
The Reds will recall outfielder Ruben Mateo from Triple-A Louisville to take Griffey's place on the roster.
They already were expecting right-hander Jose Acevedo to fill the spot opened when outfielder Austin Kearns was placed on the 15-day disabled list before the game with an inflamed rotator cuff in his right shoulder.
"They are our two best hitters," Bowden said. "They've both been playing with injuries all year."
The Reds fell 7 1/2 games behind NL Central Division-leading Houston with their seventh consecutive loss to the Astros.
Houston used a five-run second inning to snap a six-game road losing streak. The outburst was capped by a two-run single by Geoff Blum that extended his career-high hitting streak to 16 games.