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Griffey looks to strike again against the Indians

Jun 9, 2007 - 2:30 PM Cleveland (36-23) at Cincinnati (24-38) 7:10 pm EDT

CINCINNATI (Ticker) -- In his eighth season in the National League, it's easy to forget Ken Griffey Jr. once terrorized the Cleveland Indians.

The Cincinnati Reds continue their three-game interleague series with the Indians on Saturday at Great American Ball Park.

Griffey, who spent his first 11 seasons in Seattle, has been a headache for Cleveland his entire career. Including Friday's sixth-inning solo blast that turned out to be the final margin in a 4-3 win for Cincinnati, he has 36 homers in his career the Indians - the second-most he has hit against one team - and 97 RBI in 138 games against them.

Jeremy Sowers (1-6, 6.63 ERA), who is 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA in two starts against the Reds, will take the mound for Cleveland. He will be looking for his good outing in some time, as he has been roughed up for four or more runs in five of his last six outings.

That stretch includes Sunday 9-2 loss against Detroit, in which he surrendered five runs and seven hits over four frames. Not a strikeout pitcher to begin with, the lefthander has struck no more than three hitters in a game - and 14 all season - after posting just 49 strikeouts last season over 146 2/3 innings.

Cincinnati's Matt Belisle (5-4, 4.48), who is 0-1 with a 10.50 ERA in his only career start against the Indians, will oppose Sowers. He is coming off a no-decision in a 10-9 loss to the Rockies on Sunday, as he allowed five runs and 10 hits over 6 2/3 innings.