Griffey to miss series with hamstring injury

Cincinnati Ken Griffey Jr. is expected to miss the Cincinnati Reds’ weekend series against the Pittsburgh Pirates because his strained right hamstring is still bothering him.

Griffey took batting practice Friday but was out of the starting lineup for the sixth consecutive game. He injured the hamstring while running to first base last Friday in Anaheim.

Ray’s Kennedy suspended

New York Pitcher Joe Kennedy of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays was suspended Friday for seven games and fined and undisclosed amount for intentionally throwing at Toronto’s Ken Huckaby in a 5-4 loss to the Blue Jays on June 6.

Cubs’ righty suspended

Chicago Chicago Cubs right-hander Carlos Zambrano was suspended Friday for five games and fined an undisclosed amount for his actions in a bench-clearing brawl June 4 at a Triple-A game in Utah.

Reds get Chen

Cincinnati Left-hander Bruce Chen was traded Friday from the Montreal Expos to the Cincinnati Reds. The Reds gave up right-hander Jim Brower, who was 2-0 with a 3.89 ERA in 22 relief appearances.