HOUSTON — As good as Houston Astros first baseman Jeff Bagwell has been, one pitcher continues to haunt him. Greg Maddux? Randy Johnson? Curt Schilling?

        No, Reds reliever Scott Sullivan.

        Bagwell, a four-time All-Star who entered Thursday with a .304 lifetime batting average, is 0-for-15 with six strikeouts against Sullivan. Bagwell's 0-for-3 effort against Sullivan this year included a seventh-inning strikeout Thursday.

        “There's one pitcher I've never been able to figure out, and that's Scott Sullivan,” Bagwell said. “There are a lot of guys who are tough, but I've never been able to do anything with this guy. Not once.

        “I'm taking a whole new approach this year. My goal is to get a walk. If I do that, that's progress.”

        The modest Sullivan reacted typically to this praise.

        “That's a heck of a compliment. There are a hundred people I could think of who I'd rather face than that guy,” Sullivan said. “The next couple of years, he and I are going to face each other a lot, and I'm sure he's going to get his share of hits. You don't keep a career .300 hitter oh-for.”

Reds 8, Astros 7 Sullivan has irregular heartbeat Bagwell '0' for Sullivan Reyes may return next week Reds box, runs

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