CHICAGO - Another day, and two more Reds players are out with injuries. Reliever Scott Sullivan is finished for the year, and Barry Larkin will be limited to pinch-hitting duty over the four remaining games.

        Sullivan is suffering from back spasms; Larkin has bone spurs on his right big toe and will have surgery Monday.

        Sullivan first had the spasms Sept. 18 in Pittsburgh. He was going through his normal conditioning when his back locked up on him.

        “That's not too conducive to a sidearm pitcher pitching,” Sullivan said.

        Sullivan was OK with the decision.

        “I'm physically unable to perform,” he said. “The party's over for me.”

        The injury ends the most frustrating year of Sullivan's career. It's been an injury-marred nightmare since he was hit on the right arm by a Richie Sexson comebacker May 13. He hasn't been the same since. His 6-5 record and 6.06 ERA are evidence.

        Larkin has been bothered by the toe injury for some time. The decision to shut him down was made when his Achilles started bothering him.

        He had a similar problem with his left big toe in 1997. It eventually led to him tearing his Achilles. Larkin isn't expecting a long rehab.

        “Hopefully, I'll be able to fish and tailgate at my 9-year-old's (Shane) football games,” he said. “That's going to be my rehab.”

        Larkin had a relatively healthy year. He has played in 144 games after being limited to a total of 147 the last two seasons.

        He has not been on the DL.

        Larkin is hitting .244 with seven home runs and 44 RBI. The .244 average would equal a career low, set in 1987, his first full year in the big leagues.

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