In spot start, Terry terrific for Manatees

Before the season began, Clint Terry was informed he would be a long reliever and make a few spot starts. Although he had been a starter most of his life, he knew his goals wouldn't change just because his innings totals did.

In his third start of the season, the Brewers left-handed prospect allowed a run on three hits over a career-long seven innings as Class A Advanced Brevard County topped Daytona, 5-2, on Wednesday at Space Coast Stadium.

"Whenever I get a chance to get the start, I got to live up to [the organization's] expectations and try to help my team get a 'W,'" he said. "It's not my choice, but whatever they tell me to do, I'm going to go do it. I really just go out there and pitch."

With the Manatees giving him an early lead, Terry (1-1) tossed two perfect frames before Reds' No. 16 prospect Taylor Sparks led off the third inning with his fourth homer of the season.

"I fell behind, 2-0, and then I got back to 2-1 and then I left a fastball over too much of the plate. It was a great piece of hitting on his part," the 22-year-old said.

Reds' No. 26 prospect Sebastian Elizalde belted a double after Sparks' blast, but then Terry retired the next nine Manatees. The 6-foot-2 hurler yielded a single to Carlton Daal -- Cincinnati's No. 23 prospect -- but was otherwise perfect to earn his first win since July, when he was with Class A Wisconsin. The Illinois native struck out a career-high 10 without issuing a free pass.

"I felt pretty good. I had the wind at my back and good defense, so I was just pounding the zone and letting them do the work," he said. "Just getting ahead with the first-pitch fastball and then just keeping guys off balance with the changeup and curveball really helps. … Once you're 0-1, you can use all your pitches that you have. It helps when you're able to locate all three pitches for that night and then just trusting your defense."

Terry was a starter at Lee University before the Brewers took him in the 18th round of the 2013 Draft. Since then, he made 42 appearances, including 16 spot starts. Over his last two starts, Terry has held Florida State League opponents to two runs on six hits in 13 innings. He allowed an unearned run over three innings in two relief appearances in between.

While he thinks the plan is to stay with the current arrangement, Terry said it doesn't make a difference to him what inning he enters the game.

"If I ever get chances, I'm going to go out there and do my best," he said. "It's the same mentality, just got to get ahead with the first pitch and then trying to get ground balls and let your defense work."

Preston Gainey struck out the final batter of the game to pick up his first save of the season.

Reds' No. 6 prospect Nick Travieso (3-5) allowed four unearned runs on six hits and two walks while striking out six in 4 2/3 innings.