Sunday, September 26, 1999

Neagle an ace-come-lately

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His 9 victories have come since coming off DL

BY JOHN FAY
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Denny Neagle tips his hat to the crowd as he leaves Saturday's game at Cinergy Field. (Gary Landers photo) | ZOOM |

        When Denny Neagle was stuck on the disabled list with a weak left shoulder, he wondered if he'd pitch for the Reds again this season.

        Wonder no more.

        Neagle has been the Reds' best pitcher in the part of the season that means the most.

        Neagle (9-5) beat the St. Louis Cardinals 6-1 Saturday. Neagle went seven innings, allowing three runs. He walked four and struck out six.

        The win was his sixth in six starts, thus he became the first Reds pitcher to win six straight starts since Tom Browning won eight straight in 1989.

        “At one point, I didn't know if I'd be able to pitch for these guys this season,” he said. “Now, I'm healthier and stronger than I've ever been. (The injury) may be a blessing in disguise.”

        Neagle is 9-2 with a 3.23 ERA since coming off the disabled list July 30.

        But it is those last six starts that he's been especially sharp.

        He started the streak by beating his old team the Braves Aug. 30, the Reds' one win over Atlanta.

        He gave up three runs in that one. He gave up two runs in each of his next three starts. Saturday was the second straight start he's allowed only one.

        His ERA is 2.30 during the streak.

        Saturday, all his struggles came early. He walked Edgar Renteria to start the game. Renteria stole second and was sacrificed to third. Neagle struck out Mark McGwire, but Eduardo Perez got Renteria in with a single.

        Neagle then hit a batter and walked another to load the bases.

        He got out of it by getting Alberto Castillo to fly out.

        “I was a little too pumped,” he said. “I was trying to throw the ball 95 mph.”

        But Neagle settled down. After he allowed a two-out double to Fernando Tatis in the third, Neagle retired 13 of the next 14 batters.

        Reds manager Jack McKeon replaced him with closer Danny Graves after Neagle allowed a leadoff double to Placido Polanco in the eighth.

        “He wanted the right-hander to face McGwire,” McKeon said.

        Neagle had thrown 109 pitches and had done his part.

       

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