Phillies Notes: Ruf starts again in Phillies loss to Padres

SAN DIEGO - Darin Ruf lost his rookie status in 2013, but when he returned to his locker Wednesday after a two-hit night, he found a costume. It was dress-up night for the rookies, an annual hazing event he should have avoided. Ruf's space-rock outfit made him look like David Bowie in

Labyrinth

.

That was fine. Ruf is just happy to see more playing time. His reward Thursday for starting two rallies Wednesday was another start at first base, this time as the cleanup hitter. He doubled and scored a run in a 7-3 loss to the Padres.

Kyle Kendrick allowed three runs and five walks in five mediocre innings. He has one more start in his Phillies career. His offense offered no support; the tying run came to bat three times in the eighth, and all three Phillies struck out. Rookie Maikel Franco fanned three more times. Domonic Brown, at least, scored a run and drove in another.

These days, the results are meaningless. The at-bats for Ruf are not. He could play every game this weekend in Oakland because the A's will throw three lefthanded starters.

"We'll see what happens," Ruf said. "I try to take advantage of the opportunities I'm given. The goal is to get hits when I play."

Ruf has an .854 OPS in his 100 career starts with 20 homers and 18 doubles in those games.

The Phillies have used Ruf as a platoon player, and that could be his future. Ruf has started just once in 2014 against a righty. He will go to the Dominican Republic in October for a few weeks of winter ball to get more at- bats and see more righthanded pitching.

"It might be my role going forward, so I've got to get used to it," Ruf said. "Take advantage of when I'm in there. If it's a pinch-hit situation, try to take advantage of that. Be aggressive."

Seven spectacular innings Wednesday boosted Cole Hamels to 1892/3 for the season. He missed his first three starts because of biceps tendinitis, yet he still should reach 200 innings. When asked what that number means to him, Hamels said: "Everything."

"There's a big difference between 190 or 195 and 200," Hamels said. "If you see something that begins with a 2, you know you're doing something right. The guys who do that are the guys pitching at a high level.

"I knew it was going to be a grind to get there with the DL stint, but that's what I'm gunning for."

Sandberg used an infield of Ruf, Andres Blanco, Freddy Galvis, and Franco on Thursday. Chase Utley sat out, but pinch-hit in the ninth and grounded out to end the game. . . . Jimmy Rollins tested his strained left hamstring. He could play in Oakland, his hometown.