DUNEDIN, Fla. — Reds manager Bob Boone, who had been slow to decide on position battles this spring, made a significant one Sunday: Brady Clark will be the fourth outfielder.

        “And he could move up,” Boone said.

        Meaning, Clark may get a chance at the right-field job. But Boone likes Clark so much as a late-inning option, he's reluctant to put him in the lineup.

        “He's too valuable off the bench,” Boone said. “He won a lot of games in the late innings for us last year.”

        Clark, the 28-year-old right-handed hitter, got his first extensive big-league time last year. He hit .264 with six home runs and 18 RBI in 89 games, including .271 with a homer and eight RBI as a pinch hitter.

        None of the candidates for right field has distinguished himself. In fact, long shot Wily Mo Pena was reassigned to Single-A Stockton on Sunday. Juan Encarnacion (.174), Ruben Mateo (.167) and Austin Kearns (.111) all have struggled.

        “I don't think they've been that bad,” Boone said. “Encarnacion hit three or four balls you could hang laundry (on). Mateo struggled a little at Fort Myers, then he worked with (hitting coach) Jim Lefebvre and looked much better. The numbers are totally irrelevant. I'm looking for professional approaches. You can't judge anyone on 20 at-bats.”

        Mateo did homer and Encarnacion had two hits in the Reds' 7-4 loss to Toronto on Sunday.

        “There will be a day when I say our best chance to win is with Brady Clark in right,” Boone said. “If he does something, he'll be in there the next day.”

        With Clark entrenched as the fourth outfielder, who's the fifth outfielder?

        “That's a good question,” Boone said.

        With Encarnacion the likely starting right fielder, the fifth outfielder will probably come down to Mateo, Robin Jennings and Kevin Witt. Witt can play first and third, and Jennings plays first, which could be factors. If Kearns doesn't win the right-field job, he will head for the minors. That could be the case for Mateo, as well.

        ACE-VEDO: Jose Acevedo was dominating in his start Sunday, allowing two hits and striking out four in four innings.

        “He's been lights-out from the start,” Boone said. "He came out firing. He matured last year. He realized the mistakes he couldn't make in the strike zone.”

        Acevedo has gone nine innings over three outings this spring, allowing two runs and five hits. He has struck out seven and walked one.

        14 GONE: The Reds cut 14 players. Reassigned to the minor-league camp: infielders Mike Caruso, Chris Sexton, Alex Hernandez and Brandon Larson; outfielder Jermaine Allensworth; and pitchers Brian Bohanon, Trever Miller, Brandon Kolb and Pedro Feliciano.

        Optioned were pitcher Luke Hudson to Triple-A Louisville; catcher Dane Sardinha and outfielder Jackson Melian to Double-A Chattanooga; and infielder David Espinosa and Pena to Stockton.

        THE SURVIVORS: Three significant survivors of the cuts were pitchers Luis Pineda, Ricardo Aramboles and Ty Howington.

        “We want to look at them some more,” Boone said. “They're still in the mix.”

        Because of the huge number of pitchers — the Reds opened camp with 34 — early results were key for young pitchers.

        Hudson, acquired in the Pokey Reese trade from Colorado, had a 12.27 ERA in two outings.

        “We still like him,” Boone said. “We want him to go get ready for April1.”

        Pineda, Aramboles and Howington have three of the best arms in camp, and they have gotten results. Howington is the only one of the three to allow a run.

        STINNETT UPDATE: Boone said he expected catcher Kelly Stinnett, who left because of a personal matter in Arizona, to rejoin the team Sunday night.

        INNINGS WANTED: The Reds probably will add an intrasquad or simulated game.

        “We've got a lot of guys vying for spots in the starting rotation, and they need to build innings,” Boone said.

        Danny Graves will start today against Tampa Bay in Sarasota. The Reds want him to get about 40 pitches , so he can work on his breaking pitches.
       DAVIS UPDATE: Left-hander Lance Davis threw 60 pitches off the mound Sunday. Davis will be examined today, and if he's OK he will start Tuesday against Philadelphia in Clearwater. Davis missed his last start with shoulder tightness.

Clark named fourth outfielder Added years don't hurt Pineda Blue Jays 4, Reds 3

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