SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -Ken Griffey Jr. will miss the rest of the season because of a strained groin, the latest in a string of injuries to Cincinnati's All-Star outfielder.

Griffey left Wednesday night's game at the Chicago Cubs in the eighth inning after injuring himself while fielding a ball in right field. As he started to make a throw, Griffey stopped in pain and had to underhand the ball back to the infield before falling to the ground.

The Reds originally announced the injury as a strained lower abdomen, and Griffey returned to Cincinnati be examined. On Thursday, the team said he was diagnosed with a high groin strain and will be examined again in four weeks.

Griffey hit .277 this year with 30 homers and 93 RBIs, playing 144 games - highest total since 2000. He was an All-Star for the first time since 2004 and the 13th time overall, and he moved up to sixth on the career home run list with 593.

Griffey has been on the disabled list eight times since 2000, missing nearly a month early in the 2006 season because of swelling behind his right knee and sitting out 22 of the last 24 games after dislocating a toe.

His playing time also has been cut by torn hamstrings, a torn knee tendon, a dislocated shoulder and a torn ankle tendon. He broke his left hand in an accident at home last December.

Notes: Cincinnati recalled RHP Homer Bailey from Class A Sarasota.Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.