Griffey makes triumphant return

Ken Griffey, Jr. made his return Sunday to Vancouver after a 7-year absence to fill in for the injured David Ortiz. Griffey had most of his best seasons in Vancouver from 1991-2002 including a 5-year stretch in which he hit at least 40 home runs. Despite allegations that the signing was just a gimmick to milk nostalgia for all it's worth, GM/owner Yaro Zajac asserted that Griffey was the best option out there to fill in for Ortiz. "The nostalgic factor is just the icing on the cake" Zajac said in a pre-game press conference. As for Griffey, the former outfielder shed a few tears when he took the mound in the team's black and copper uniforms. "I felt like I was in my 20s again" he said. Griffey went 1-3 in his first game back and then 1-2 in the second game of the doubleheader. Vancouver plans to keep Griffey in the DH role for the duration of his stint with the team, but a few late inning outfield appearances have not been ruled out.

Joba Chamberlain and Daisuke Matsuzaka battled to a draw for 6.1 innings, but the Sardine City Straphangers took a nailbiter by a 2-1 margin. The Sardines took the lead in the 9th when B.J. Upton hit a triple that scored Miguel Montero from first. Taylor Buchholz pitched a 1-2-3 inning to record his 7th save.

Yesterday was a bit of good news/bad news for the young Vols pitchers in the league. Amityville's Chris Volstad had a bit of an uneven performance against the Cutters but held on to get the win and even his record at 3-3. Volstad pitched 6.2 innings, giving up 3 runs on 8 hits and 2 walks while striking out 5. Meanwhile, struggling Edinson Volquez pitched a solid 6 innings for Team Buddah, holding Marietta to 2 runs on 7 hits and striking out 6, but got a loss anyway. Volquez's statline on the season (1-6, 6.80) is ugly, but this has to be encouraging.