SARASOTA, Fla. — The Reds put the theory that it's good to have Brady Clark around in the late innings into practice Monday.

        Clark's two-run, two-out homer in the bottom of the ninth lifted the Reds to a 3-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Devils Rays at Ed Smith Stadium.

        Reds manager Bob Boone said Sunday that he's reluctant to start Clark because he's so valuable off the bench in the late innings.

        Boone admitted there are two sides to that argument.

        “If he had a few at-bats earlier, we wouldn't have been batting in the bottom of the ninth,” Boone said. “He gives you pretty professional at-bats every time up.”

        Boone told the media Sunday that Clark was the fourth outfielder. He didn't share that with Clark.

        “I don't want him to get cocky,” Boone said. He was kidding. Clark is the last player to take his status for granted.

        “He works like he's scared to death,” Boone said.

        Clark pleads guilty to that.

        “I can't control what decisions are made,” he said. “I can just come in and do my work.”

        GONE, NOT FORGOTTEN:

        Chances are, you will see Ty Howington at Cinergy Field this season.

        The question is when.

        The Reds' No.1 draft choice in 1999 was cut Monday after doing nothing to deserve it.

        Howington, a 21-year-old left-hander, was coming off the most impressive outing of the spring by a Reds pitcher. He threw 4 2/3 innings of two-hit ball against the Minnesota Twins' “A” lineup Saturday.

        “That was as good as I've seen him throw,” Reds general manager Jim Bowden said. “He had a really good fastball. His changeup was incredible, and he threw some good breaking balls. It was a major-league performance — very, very encouraging.”

        So why is he going down to the minors?

        “We want him to work on tightening up his curveball,” Bowden said. “He needs to throw every fifth day. We want him to go to Triple A and get ready. I still think he'll be up at some point this year.”

        The Reds simply do not have enough innings to go around.

        Cutting Howington, Brian Reith and Jared Fernandez leaves eight pitchers competing for the five starting spots. Jose Acevedo, Lance Davis, Elmer Dessens, Seth Etherton, Joey Hamilton, Jimmy Haynes, Chris Reitsma and Jose Rijo remain in the running.

        Howington said he understood the demotion, despite allowing only one earned run on four hits over seven innings this spring.

        “I've only made the one start, and that was on Joey (Hamilton's) day,” he said. “I need to get my innings.”

        The Reds wanted Howington to go out on a positive note. Saturday's outing certainly was.

        “It always good to have an outing like that,” Howington said. “It gives you confidence.”

        GRAVES START:

        Danny Graves will get at least one more extended outing. He started Monday against the Devil Rays. He went four innings, allowing one hit and no runs.

        “He threw good breaking balls today,” Boone said. “He does it so easy; he doesn't throw many pitches. I'd like to get him out there a couple more times. I think it's really going to help him.”

        BOHANON SURGERY:

        Left-hander Brian Bohanon had arthroscopic surgery for a stress fracture in his left elbow. Team medical director Dr. Timothy Kremchek performed the one-hour procedure at Good Samaritan Hospital in Cincinnati. Bohanon will return to camp today and should begin throwing in two weeks.

        DAVIS NEXT:

        Lance Davis will start today at Clearwater against the Philadelphia Phillies. Davis had no ill effects from the 60-pitch bullpen outing he threw Sunday.

        All the tightness, which caused him to miss one start, was gone.

        “I finally felt free and easy,” he said. “It wasn't like something was tugging on the back of my shoulder. I could hit my spots.”

        The left-handed Davis, 25, has struggled. His ERA is 23.14 after three outings.

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