Benito Santiago tags out Travis Fryman for the last out. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

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        If the Reds are to have a fire sale, the price tag on Denny Neagle is getting pretty steep.

        Neagle threw eight shutout innings in the Reds' 2-1 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Friday night before a crowd of 53,509 at Cinergy Field. It was the first sellout for the Reds since Opening Day. Today's game is sold out as well. (There are standing-room-only tickets available).

        The fans got their money's worth. The game ended when Travis Fryman was thrown out trying to score from first on Russell Branyan's double. The Alex Ochoa-to-Barry Larkin-to-Benito Santiago relay was executed perfectly, nailing Fryman by four feet.

        “Great game,” Reds manager Jack McKeon said. “The fans had to love it.”

Denny Neagle responds to a standing ovation as he leaves the game in the ninth. (Jeff Swinger photo) | ZOOM |

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        Neagle is Reds' most valuable trade commodity in today's pitching-starved game. And he's getting more valuable with each start. He went eight innings, allowing six hits Friday, to push his record to 8-2. He walked four and struck out seven, throwing 138 pitches.

        It was the first time a Reds pitcher has gone eight innings since Neagle did April 20.

        Neagle knows every contending team that needs pitching is watching his every start.

        “I'm no dummy,” he said.

        Neagle is a free agent after the season. With Brad Radke getting a $9 million-a-year contract from the Minnesota Twins, Neagle's price is likely too high for the Reds. So if the Reds fell out of the playoff picture, he'd bring a high price on the trade market.

Chris Stynes is greeted by Barry Larkin after a HR. (Jeff Swinger photo) | ZOOM |

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        But Neagle would rather finish the year with the Reds. For that to happen, the Reds need to get back in the race in the National League Central. Friday's win cut the St. Louis Cardinals lead to eight games. The Cardinals lost to the San Francisco Giants 4-2.

        “Every game is big now,” Neagle said. “We can't afford to fall any further back. We need to sweep this series and stop all the trade rumors. I'm a firm believer that's it's not over.”

        Not over, but not easy.

        “It's tough,” he said. “No question. I always look at it like what if the Cardinals play .500 the rest of the way. Then we would have to pay 19 over .500. That's not impossible.”

        Neagle is helping the cause. He's won three straight starts. He's gone at least seven innings in each of them and has a 2.38 ERA over that span.

Jack McKeon argues with first base ump Larry Young. (Jeff Swinger photo) | ZOOM |

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        Chris Stynes, in the lineup for the injured Aaron Boone, got the Reds on the board in the third inning with his fifth home run. He's hitting .477 (21-for-44) over his last 17 games.

        The last time Neagle faced the Indians they roughed him up. He allowed six runs and 11 hits in the 5 1/3 innings of a 7-4 loss June 9. The loss ended an 11-game winning streak by Neagle, dating to last season.

        Neagle started well Friday but had a rough third inning. Kenny Lofton led off an with infield single. Neagle struck out pitcher Chuck Finley. Roberto Alomar walked on the 14th pitch Neagle threw to him. After another strikeout — this of Omar Vizquel — Neagle walked Fryman to load the bases.

        But Neagle got out of it without damage by striking on Richie Sexson. Neagle threw 36 pitches in the inning.

        Neagle allowed runners into scoring position in the fifth and sixth as well but he was able to work out of both jams.

        “I was able to make good pitches when I needed to,” he said. “I was able to sneak a couple of fastballs by these guys.”

Pokey Reese eyes the ball after he failed to make a barehanded grab. (Jeff Swinger photo) | ZOOM |

        But he was racking up a lot of pitches. He threw 104 pitches through six innings.

        The Reds added a run in the eighth. Ochoa beat out an infield single. Casey followed with a line drive that got to the wall in right-center. Ochoa scored without drawing a throw.

        It was redemption for Casey, who had grounded out with the bases loaded in the sixth.

        “After that, I was hoping I'd get another chance,” Casey said. “That's all you can hope for.”

>        Neagle took the mound in the ninth, only as a decoy. The Reds were trying to get Cleveland to burn a pinch-hitter.

        “I know the fans didn't like it,” McKeon said of pulling Neagle. “But he threw 132 (actually 138) pitches. That's the most by any of our guys this year.”

        The ploy didn't work. Enrique Wilson, a switch-hitter, stayed at the plate, batting left-handed against the righty Danny Graves. The Reds made a double switch, putting Michael Tucker in right when they brought in Graves.

        Juan Castro, another defensive replacement, made a great play at third to get Wilson.

        “That was the ballgame,” McKeon said.

        Roberto Alomar singled up the middle. Jim Thome, pinch-hitting for Vizquel, popped to center. Fryman, the potential tying run, then walked.

        Branyan was brought in to pinch-hit for Richie Sexton, whom Neagle struck out three times.

        Braynan, who has more home runs than singles (eleven to eight), went with a 2-2 pitch on the outside corner. He drove it into the corner. Ochoa quickly chased it down, threw a chest-high strike to Larkin, whose throw to the plate was in Santiago's mitt before Fryman was within six feet of the plate.

        That gave Graves his 14th save, and Neagle a much-deserved win.

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