Griffey scratched with illness; Mercker put on DL by Reds

5/9/2008 6:40 PM

By MIKE FITZPATRICK
AP Baseball Writer

NEW YORK (AP) -Ken Griffey Jr. was removed from the Cincinnati Reds' starting lineup Friday night against the New York Mets because of an illness.

Three homers shy of 600, Griffey was to be replaced in right field by Ryan Freel. The start of the game was delayed because of rain.

Second baseman Brandon Phillips also was out of the lineup with a sore left calf, sustained on a foul ball Wednesday. Cincinnati manager Dusty Baker said Phillips might be available to pinch hit.

In addition, the Reds placed reliever Kent Mercker on the 15-day disabled list due to lower back pain and recalled left-hander Bill Bray from Triple-A Louisville.

Mercker was 0-0 with a 3.86 ERA in 11 2-3 innings spanning 13 appearances. He was put on the DL retroactive to Tuesday.

This is Bray's second stint with Cincinnati this season. He pitched four scoreless innings in four outings for the Reds from April 28-May 4. He was 0-0 with a 3.00 ERA and one save in nine relief appearances at Louisville.

``He hadn't done anything to not merit being here,'' Baker said. ``He had time to get some clothes and come back.''

Freel was slated to bat second against the Mets. Center fielder Corey Patterson was dropped from leadoff to Griffey's No. 3 spot in the lineup, and second baseman Jerry Hairston Jr. moved up one slot to leadoff.

Griffey spoke with reporters Friday at soggy Shea Stadium and said he isn't sure how he'll react when he hits No. 600.

``You guys think about it more than I do,'' he said. ``I'm just trying to get base hits and help this team win.''