Griffey Out With Knee Injury

While Pat Burrell, Marcus Giles and Daryle Ward hit walkoff home runs, Ken Griffey Jr. hobbled off toward an uncertain future. <br><br>On an afternoon full of hitting heroics in extra innings, plus a dominant

Monday, April 8th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

While Pat Burrell, Marcus Giles and Daryle Ward hit walkoff home runs, Ken Griffey Jr. hobbled off toward an uncertain future.

On an afternoon full of hitting heroics in extra innings, plus a dominant pitching performance by Curt Schilling, an injury to Griffey attracted the most attention Sunday.

Griffey will be sidelined at least 3-to-6 weeks after hurting his troublesome right knee in a rundown against Montreal. The Cincinnati star partially tore the patella tendon and partially dislocated his kneecap.

``This is a serious injury,'' Reds team doctor Timothy Kremchek said.

Griffey hit his 461st career home run and a double before twisting his knee. The All-Star center fielder was put on the 15-day disabled list after a 10-inning, 6-5 win over the Expos.

The Reds will try to treat him with rest and rehabilitation. Kremchek said there was an ``outside chance'' Griffey will need an operation.

If surgery is required, Griffey would likely be lost for the rest of the season, the doctor said.

Griffey missed most of the first three months last season because of a partially torn left hamstring.