Deion Sanders provided the drama for the Reds on Tuesday night. The real intrigue is yet to unfold.

        While Sanders' heroics turned the Reds' 7-6 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers into a fairy tale, the story of Cincinnati's season could revolve around how manager Bob Boone tries to maximize the production of his talented but crowded outfield.

        That group includes Dmitri Young, whose seventh-inning bloop RBI single to left field broke a 6-6 tie and Los Angeles' five-game winning streak.

        With the Reds (15-10) having won six of their last seven games and 12 of 16 to tie Chicago for first place in the National League Central Division, Young's not concerned.

        “I know my bat's an important bat in the lineup,” said Young, who gave up his left field spot to Sanders and filled in for sore-footed Sean Casey at first base. “I've improved myself defensively tenfold over the last couple of years. I've proven to be one of the team's go-to guys as well. I'm not worried about it.

        “I know there obviously are going to be days when I'm off. There are going to be days when Tuck (Michael Tucker) is going to be off. Today (Alex) Ochoa got a day off. It's also going to work with Case (with Young moving to first as Casey rests). Unless there's some wheeling and dealing (trade talks) going on, which I don't hope for ... We have great chemistry going. Right now, it's a good time to just play.”

        Boone eventually must accommodate injured slugger Ken Griffey Jr., who will occupy center field once his left hamstring heals.

        A trade involving an outfielder would ease the overload.

        “If it happens, it happens. It isn't like Jim's never traded anybody before,” said Young, referring to general manager Jim Bowden. “We just concern ourselves with wins. Let the people upstairs worry about where they want to place people.”

        So far, Boone has kept Young, Tucker, Ochoa and Ruben Rivera not only fresh but also sharp. He's confident he can still do so with Sanders aboard.

        “I'll get them in,” Boone said. “We'll all have to watch, including myself, to see how I do it.”

        Every at-bat counts, as Young proved when he faced Dodgers reliever Matt Herges (1-2) in the seventh inning with two outs and Barry Larkin on second base. Young had gone 0-for-3 without hitting the ball out of the infield. But Reds closer Danny Graves, who would blank the Dodgers in the ninth in ning for his ninth save, sensed the perennial .300 hitter was due.

        “We were saying down in the bullpen, "You might want to walk him,'” Graves said of Young. “Because you can't hold him down too much longer.”

        Young dropped Herges' 0-1 pitch into left field to score Larkin.

Reds 7, Dodgers 6 Will Deion stay past kickoff? Will OF crunch prompt trade? Casey should return quickly Newcomer Clark already turning heads Boone drills outfielders on throws Reds box, runs

• Return to Reds front page...