PITTSBURGH — Aaron Harang did his part to keep Cincinnati's slim postseason hopes alive.

Harang pitched an eight-hitter for his National League-leading sixth complete game and the Reds beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-2 Friday night.

Harang (16-11) threw 125 pitches, struck out nine and didn't walk a batter to move into a tie for the league lead in wins. He also leads the NL in strikeouts and innings pitched after becoming the first Red to throw consecutive complete games since Pete Harnisch in July 2000.

"He finished off for him a great regular season of starts," Reds manager Jerry Narron said. "He pitched outstanding."

Rich Aurilia homered and drove in three runs for the Reds, who have won five of six. St. Louis beat Milwaukee 10-5 to remain 2Z\x games ahead of third-place Cincinnati, which is one game behind the Astros. The Reds would be eliminated from postseason contention with another loss or Cardinals win.

Harang struck out the final batter of the game — pinch-hitter Ryan Doumit — to take the league lead in strikeouts with 216, one more than San Diego's Jake Peavy.

Freddy Sanchez went 2-for-4 to raise his NL-leading batting average to .345 for the Pirates, who have lost eight in a row. Pittsburgh's Chris Duffy went 3-for-4.

Ronny Paulino singled in Sanchez in the fourth but Aurilia hit his 23rd homer in the fifth against Zach Duke (10-15) to make it 3-1. Aurilia's drive to the deepest part of the park in left-center bounced off the top of the padded wall and scored Norris Hopper, who had walked with two outs.

Aurilia singled in Hopper in the seventh, and Juan Castro tripled and scored on a wild pitch in the eighth for Cincinnati.

With Pittsburgh in fifth in the NL Central, fans focused on Sanchez's pursuit of the batting title.

Fans were given signs that said "Go Freddy Go" and each time Sanchez came to the plate he was greeted with an ovation. He singled in the first and fourth innings, lined out sharply to left with Duffy on second and two outs in the fifth and grounded out weakly with Duffy at third in the seventh.

"It's awesome, that's the best part, when fans get involved," Sanchez said. They've come out all year. We've had a disappointing year, but they've always been there. It feels great to have them."