By The Associated Press

HOUSTON - Ken Griffey Jr. left the Cincinnati Reds' game against the Houston Astros on Monday night with stiffness in his right hamstring.

Griffey came out in the third inning after striking out against Roy Oswalt. He was replaced in the lineup by Jason Romano and is day-to-day.

The 34-year-old Griffey missed the first two games of the season after straining his right calf while running out a grounder during the final week of spring training.

He entered the game hitting .233 with three homers and 14 RBIs.

The injury-prone center fielder has been hurt at the outset of the last four seasons. A string of serious injuries the past three years has limited the player who made the All-Century team before returning to his hometown for the 2000 season.

He tore a hamstring late in spring training of 2001, tore a tendon in his knee during the first week of the 2002 season, and dislocated his shoulder while diving for a ball in the opening week last season.

Griffey returned from the shoulder injury and tore a tendon in his ankle in July. He had surgery for both injuries.