BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE MAJORS : Mitchell Returns to Lineup for Reds

Outfielder Kevin Mitchell of the Cincinnati Reds, who sat out two games because of an eye injury suffered in a bar incident, was back in the lineup Monday against the Dodgers. Before the game, Red General Manager Jim Bowden issued a statement saying the team had completed its investigation of the incident and had cleared Mitchell of any wrongdoing.

Mitchell suffered a swollen right eye Friday night after being hit at a prominent Cincinnati-area nightspot. He sat out the last two weekend games against the Colorado Rockies.

Mitchell told the Reds he was an innocent bystander at The Waterfront, a restaurant-bar frequented by athletes, when he was hit by a flying bottle. His account was disputed again Monday night by the establishment’s owner.

Jeff Ruby, the restaurant owner, told the Associated Press on Monday night that Mitchell got into a disagreement with a woman he knew and she hit him with a beer mug.