DETROIT — Scott Sullivan sounded conciliatory on Sunday, one day after igniting a brawl by hitting Colorado's Brian Hunter with his only pitch.

        “If Brian Hunter thought I was throwing at him, I don't blame him,” the Reds reliever said. “If somebody was throwing at me, I'd probably do the same thing. He had a choice of what to do, and he chose to come out there and make his point.”

        Nor did Sullivan back down: “I don't mind going against anybody.”

Brian Hunter charges Scott Sullivan. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

Sullivan knocks down Hunter with a punch. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

Chris Stynes and Tom Goodwin enter the fracas. | ZOOM |

        Fortunately for Sullivan, he escaped the incident without suffering any extra bumps or bruises, which often occurs in such pileups.

        “You have to kind of retreat and protect yourself when the rest of the 24 (players) get out there, plus a couple of coaches,” he said.

        Given the stiff penalties for fighting issued this season by Frank Robinson, baseball's vice-president of on-field operations, Sullivan is bound to receive a fine and possibly a suspension sometime this week.

        Sullivan didn't hear from any friends or family members after his one-on-one with Hunter was replayed nationwide on sports highlights shows, though he made calling his wife, Leann, one of his top postgame priorities. “I didn't want her to be worried,” he said.

        CAVERNOUS COMERICA: A quick look around Comerica Park, the Tigers' new stadium, told the Reds that this wouldn't be a home-run haven. Comerica's dimensions feature a 395-foot power alley in left-center field and a center-field wall 420 feet from home plate.

        Then the Reds proceeded to hit no home runs in a game for the first time in July, ending their streak of 12 games in a row with at least one homer.

        Shortstop Barry Larkin hit a rocket to left-center during batting practice, watched it short-hop the wall and mouthed, “Wow,” in apparent disbelief.

        But Ken Griffey Jr. amazed the crowd by driving a batting-practice home run to the right-center field concourse. And Dante Bichette launched several batting-practice pitches into the left-field seats, though most of them landed in the first few rows.

        “This park isn't going to give you any cheap home runs,” Bichette said. “You have to hit it well. That's the way it should be.”

        The warm summer air has boosted power production here. Only 19 homers were hit in the first 16 games, an average of 1.2 per game. But 60 homers were blasted in the last 25, an average of 2.4.

        NEW ARRIVALS: Third baseman Drew Henson and Jackson Melian, the Reds' two most-celebrated acquisitions from the New York Yankees in the Denny Neagle trade, each went 1-for-4 in their Saturday night debuts for Double-A Chattanooga in a 6-0 loss to Mobile.

        Reds general manager Jim Bowden was in attendance as Henson, who doubled, batted third and Melian hit cleanup.

        Though management briefly considered giving Henson, a Michigan native, a cameo appearance with Cincinnati during this series, the $1.9 million bonus the Reds would owe Henson for reaching the major leagues killed that idea.

        Left-hander Ed Yarnall, who also joined the Reds organization in the Neagle deal, received no decision in Triple-A Louisville's 10-8 victory over Rochester. Yarnall allowed three runs and eight hits in six innings, walking three and striking out four.

        TOWARD JULY 31: As the non-waiver trading deadline approaches, Oakland probably will rank among the most prominent of the potential suitors for Reds right-hander Pete Harnisch.

        Like the New York Yankees, who plucked left-hander Denny Neagle from Cincinnati, Oakland's farm system is abundant with prospects. Oakland's manager is Art Howe, who loved Harnisch when he managed him in Houston from 1991-93.

        Harnisch's base salary would increase from $3.25 million to $4.25 million if he's traded. But with more than half the season elapsed, the difference isn't significant enough to scare clubs. ETC. Chris Stynes remained hot by going 2-for-4 with two runs scored. The Reds' utility player started his eighth game in a row at third base for injured Aaron Boone and owns a .600 average (21-for-35) in that span.

        • The Reds might not have to face Detroit slugger Juan Gonzalez, who is bothered by a bruised left foot and tendinitis in his left ankle.

        • Sunday's sellout crowd of 40,637 at Comerica Park was the fourth full house in a row and 25th overall to watch the Reds.

Tigers 6, Reds 2 Box, runs Seven years between Red starts for Luebbers Fight no surprise to Sullivan Sparky's big break turned out to be Reds' Results of our Reds poll

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