Griffey makes spring debut with Mariners

PEORIA, Ariz. – Ken Griffey Jr. went hitless in two plate appearances as a designated hitter Wednesday night, his first spring training game since rejoining the Seattle Mariners.

More importantly, his left knee held up just fine.

Facing Australia's World Baseball Classic team, the 39-year-old Griffey walked and flied out to center field before being taken out of the game as planned by Seattle manager Don Wakamatsu.

Afterward, Griffey tried to downplay the significance of his first game back in a Mariners uniform since 1999, calling it part of the spring training process.

"It was bound to happen sooner or later," Griffey said, adding that his surgically repaired knee was fine. "Just doing what I'm supposed to. Take as many pitches, see pitches, get guys over, do the little things."

More than four hours before the game, Griffey strolled around Seattle's clubhouse wearing dark blue shorts and a gray T-shirt. Notably missing was the bag of ice that had been secured to his left knee recently.

That's an encouraging sign for the Mariners, who have taken a slow, cautious approach with Griffey four months after the veteran outfielder had arthroscopic knee surgery.

Griffey took batting practice this week, then wore a thick bag of ice on his left knee afterward. But there were no lingering effects and Griffey looked fine as he went through his pregame routine Wednesday. When the Mariners took the field, he went through all the stretching and running drills with no obvious problems.

It was the same once the game began.

Griffey drew a six-pitch walk from Australia starter Travis Blackley, then went to second on a passed ball. He moved to third on Adrian Beltre's sharp single to center but was stranded there.

In the second, Griffey hit the first pitch he saw from Blackley to the warning track in center for the third out.

After grabbing two bats from the Mariners' dugout, Griffey walked off the field, pausing to shake hands with a few players in Australia's dugout before continuing on to Seattle's spring complex.

Though many fans gave him a standing ovation and numerous flashbulbs went off each time he batted, Griffey said he couldn't understand what all the fuss was about.

"I think the media puts too much effort into making this such a big story," Griffey said. "The focus should be on this team. I understand a little bit, but after last year we've got to turn this thing around."

Wakamatsu, who avoided rushing Griffey into a game for fear of a setback, said before the game that Griffey would likely be held out of Thursday's game against the Los Angeles Angels.

"We'll see how he feels," Wakamatsu said.

Griffey looked fine before the game. Baseball's leading active home run hitter playfully joked with teammates and flashed the big smile that helped make him a superstar in Seattle, where he began his career 20 years ago.

Notes:@ Mariners LHP Ryan Feierabend had Tommy John surgery on his left elbow. Feierabend went 1-4 with a 7.71 ERA in eight games with the Mariners in 2008. ... OF Freddy Guzman underwent surgery on the hamate bone in his right hand and could resume playing in three to four weeks, according to Wakamatsu ... RHP Josh Fields, the Mariners' first pick in the 2008 draft, faced hitters for the first time this spring in a brief workout that went well. Fields threw nearly 30 pitches while Wakamatsu and other Seattle coaches looked on. "He threw hard and looked aggressive," Wakamatsu said. "Exactly what we thought we'd see at this point." ... LHP Tyler Johnson went home sick.







A Matschie's Tree Kangaroo is seen in the Fragile Forest section of the Singapore Zoo. AP Photo/Wong Maye-E