A minor step toward return of Ruiz, Oswalt, Utley

CLEARWATER, Fla. - When Carlos Ruiz returned to Bright House Field after playing in his second straight extended spring game, something had changed in the clubhouse. Two lockers to the right of the one the Phillies' rehabbing catcher was using was a new nameplate - Oswalt - and a nice, clean Clearwater Threshers uniform with No. 44 on the back.

Yes, it looks like it's all starting to come together.

Ruiz had a half-dozen plate appearances against a ragtag lot of Pirates minor leaguers yesterday. He had a single and a sacrifice fly but, more importantly, had better at-bats.

"He swung the bat much better," said Roly de Armas, who managed the Phillies squad. "He hit the ball hard four times."

In his first game since going on the disabled list with lower back inflammation, Ruiz went 0-for-4 with three popups and a strikeout on Tuesday.

"I felt much better today," he said. "I hadn't faced pitchers for a while, so I wasn't as comfortable. I had better swings."

The next step is to catch six or seven innings tonight when the Phillies' top Class A affiliate plays Palm Beach, including being behind the plate when Roy Oswalt makes a tuneup start after missing more than 2 weeks due to a sore back and a visit to his Mississippi home to help his family clean up tornado damage.

All-Star second baseman Chase Utley (patellar tendinitis in right knee) is also expected to start, giving the minor league lineup a distinctly big-league look. While there is no official timetable for Utley's return, all indications are that he's in the home stretch of rehabbing an injury that has sidelined him all season.

Utley rested yesterday after playing in an extended spring game on Monday and for the Threshers on Tuesday.

Ruiz, who caught five innings on Tuesday, was the designated hitter yesterday and took himself out of the game after his six plate appearances, but not because he aggravated his injury.

"Six was enough," he said. "That's what we discussed when I left. There was a schedule for all 3 days I'd be here and they told me whatever I felt comfortable with today, six or seven or five. So that seemed right. It was good. I feel real good. I'm ready to go."

Barring an unforeseen setback, Ruiz plans to fly to Atlanta tomorrow morning and catch against the Braves. And it appears that Oswalt, who is scheduled to start next Tuesday, and Utley may not be far behind.