Umpire Larry Barnett apologized Monday for saying...

Umpire Larry Barnett apologized Monday for saying Detroit Manager Buddy Bell “made an enemy for life” in the wake of a controversial home run in the Angels-Tigers game Saturday in Detroit.

“It’s not easy for me to say this, but my remarks yesterday were totally wrong,” Barnett said before he worked the plate of the series finale.

The controversy began when the Angels’ Jim Edmonds hit a high fly ball to right that Detroit’s Bobby Higginson apparently caught at the wall.

But Barnett, umpiring second base, signaled a home run, saying he heard the ball hit an advertising sign draped below the upper deck overhang in right field.

The call set off an argument that included all three Detroit outfielders, Bell and Barnett. Bell and Higginson were ejected.

Bell said Sunday he was told Barnett and umpire Greg Kosc, who worked second base Saturday, were seen laughing between innings after the argument. Barnett thought his integrity was being questioned. “He’s made an enemy for life,” Barnett was quoted in Monday’s editions of the Detroit Free Press. “I’ve had feuds with better men than him. Buddy started this.”

Bell said he just wanted to put the incident behind him. “I accept it,” he said of Barnett’s apology. “It doesn’t surprise me.”